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The United States and Taiwan officially finalize the purchase of 66 F-16C/D fighter jets.
According to Taiwan media reports on July 17, after Chen Shui-bian announced the "decentralization of power" on May 31, the Taiwan authorities' "National Security Council" immediately announced the changes of two "deputy secretaries-general" Zhang Xucheng and Tsai Ming-hsien, but the two later continued to work. Among them, Tsai Ming-hsien also led a delegation including senior officials of the Taiwan authorities' defense department to the United States in early July to formally finalize the purchase of 66 F-16C/D fighter jets worth up to NT$100 billion.
After Tsai Ming-hsien was "forced" to resign as deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan authorities' National Security Council, he and Zhang Xucheng were questioned by the outside world for "fake resignation, real work". Relevant sources pointed out that Tsai Ming-hsien delayed submitting his resignation because he had other tasks to complete. It is understood that the US had finalized the list of participants in the so-called "Taiwan-US Strategic Dialogue Monterey Talks" with Taiwan at that time. Tsai Ming-hsien insisted on leaving the Taiwan authorities' National Security Council only after participating in the meeting, and planned to return to Taichung City to run for "legislative member". The report pointed out that in the so-called "Taiwan-US Strategic Dialogue Monterey Talks", the United States formally agreed to sell Taiwan 66 F-16C/D block52 fighter jets, with a total purchase amount of more than NT$120 billion. This will be Taiwan's largest military purchase from the United States since the United States agreed to sell Kidd ships, submarines, anti-submarine aircraft and other equipment in 2001. Taiwanese media said that after Chen Shui-bian announced that the GDP ratio of the "national defense budget" would be increased to 3%, the Taiwan military will have an additional budget of more than 60 billion New Taiwan dollars each year in the future. Next year's budget will be increased from 2.5% to 2.85%, an immediate increase of more than 40 billion New Taiwan dollars. Currently, the Taiwan military has only 6.2 billion in additional budget for three military purchases, including submarines, and the military still has more than 30 billion available for other weapons purchases. Taiwanese media analysis pointed out that the newly added F-16C/D fighter jet procurement case may be given the highest priority due to less controversy between the ruling and opposition parties, and may even be approved by the Legislative Yuan earlier than the "submarine case". However, the Taiwanese military estimates that according to the production schedule, the United States will not be able to deliver the aircraft until 2011 at the earliest.
The Taiwan military currently has 146 F-16A/B fighter jets, which were agreed to be sold by U.S. President George H.W. Bush in 1992. At that time, Taiwan wanted to purchase the F-16C/D model, but the U.S. believed that this type of fighter had a longer range and strong ground attack capability, and was an offensive weapon. Therefore, it only agreed to sell the A/B model with a shorter range and a stronger focus on defense. Later, the U.S. military suggested that Taiwan purchase additional F-16C/D fighter jets. The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly stated at press conferences that the US arms sales to Taiwan seriously violate the three Sino-US joint communiqués, especially the "August 17 Communiqué", are a gross interference in China's internal affairs, encourage the arrogance of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, endanger China's national security and reunification, and also damage Sino-US relations. We will never accept and firmly oppose it. (Yu Xuan)
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