U.S. House Authorized Sale Of 66 F-16s To Taiwan

The House of Representatives voted May 17 to require the United States to sell 66 new fighter-jets to Taiwan, with lawmakers saying the deal would close a growing military gap with China.

The House of Representatives voted to force the Obama administration to authorize the sale of F-16 jets in addition to plans underway to upgrade existing planes. The measure still needs Senate approval.

The measure’s main sponsor, Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, said that Taiwan needed more than an upgrade of its aging fleet in light of the rapid growth in military spending by China, which claims the island.

“The sale of F-16s to Taiwan ensures our key strategic ally in the Pacific has the defense capacity to defend its own airspace,” Granger said in a May 18 statement.

“Our support for a democratic Taiwan is consistent with our national security priorities in the region and demonstrates that we will continue to stand by our friends and allies no matter who or where the threats are from,” she said.


Source: 17 May 2012 - dailyairforce News

Photo: The Taiwan Air Force F-16 (Photo by dailyairforce.com)

(17.05.2012)