F-16 Sale Nixed: KMT Opposition to Taiwan’s Defense Claims Latest Victim

On November 1, 2005, we ran “Taiwan Orders F-16 Training in USA, But Larger Defense Buys Remain in Limbo,” covering the stalled procurement of Patriot PAC-3 air and missile defense systems, P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft, and modern diesel submarines to supplement the 2 semi-modern diesel subs and 2 WW2 vintage subs Taiwan has now. These systems are being requested in order to counter China’s fast-growing defense budget and ongoing build up of ballistic missiles, fighter aircraft, submarines, and recent buys like tank-transport hovercraft. The addendum to “Full Steam Ahead for Taiwan Frigate Corruption Investigation” also addressed this issue, noting the changing rationales used by the formerly dominant Kuomintang (KMT) party to block the sale amidst allegations in Taiwan of corruption and worse. Both articles also noted that US patience with Taiwan over their perceived lack of willingness to defend themselves adequately was running short. Taiwanese F-16B That patience has apparently run out. Minister of National Defense Lee Jye has now said that Taiwan’s $4+ billion plan to buy 66 F-16 C/D jet fighters from the USA has been suspended by President George W. Bush. His report to the Legislative Yuan’s National Defense Committee indicated that the U.S. stance is strongly […]