US President Barack Obama may soon come under direct congressional pressure to draw up a plan ensuring that Taiwan’s air force can “contribute appropriately” to the defense of the nation.
The House of Representatives and Senate are considering the measure as part of the US defense budget for fiscal 2013, which is expected to pass before the Christmas break.
A “sense of Congress” resolution that the conference committee is recommending to each house for passage — as part of the National Defense Authorization Act — orders the secretaries of defense and state to complete the plan by April 15.
In an unclassified assessment, the Defense Intelligence Agency has said that although Taiwan has almost 400 combat aircraft, far fewer are operationally capable and its F-5 fighters have reached the end of their operational service life.
The conference committee says Taiwan is experiencing a growing shortfall in fighter aircraft, even with the F-16A/B uprades agreed upon last year.
“Despite this shortfall, however, the conferees are not aware of any plan by the administration to address Taiwan’s fighter aircraft needs, whether through the sale of F-16C/Ds or otherwise,” the resolution says.
It directs the secretaries of defense and state to prepare a briefing for all relevant congressional committees that “explains the administration’s plan” for equipping Taiwan’s air force.
Taiwan has been trying for years to buy 66 F-16C/D aircraft, but so far, the White House has been unwilling to allow the sale.
Some US analysts argue that the F-16C/Ds do not best meet Taiwan’s defense needs, while others say the sale has not gone through because it would cause a huge rift in US-China relations.
Citing US obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act, the sense of Congress resolution says the president should take steps to address Taiwan’s shortfall in fighter aircraft through the sale of F-16C/Ds or “other aircraft of similar capability.”
There is no indication of just what other aircraft Congress may have in mind.
US-Taiwan Business Council president Rupert Hammond-Chambers said that the congressional resolution was “a good thing” because it raised the profile of the whole issue of US sales of fighter aircraft to Taiwan.
He said that Congress would have to take the lead on the issue and “push” the administration into action.
This will almost certainly happen if, as expected, Obama names US Senator John Kerry to replace US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton who has opted not to continue in the job.
Kerry has chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 2009 and under the seniority system, the chair will be offered to Senator Barbara Boxer, but it is believed that she wants to stay as head of the Environment and Public Works Committee.
In that case, the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee will most likely go to Senator Robert Menendez, who co-chairs the Senate Taiwan Caucus.
Menendez is one of Taiwan’s strongest supporters in the Senate and has consistently pushed for Obama to approve the sale of the F-16C/Ds.
As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, he would be ideally placed to pressure the administration into action.
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers