2011 report to congress - U.S.-China Economic and Security Review ...

287of Request to the United States for the purchase of 66 F–16C/Dfighters from the United States to replace Taiwan’s aging aircraft,especially its 1960s-era F–5 fighters. However, to date, neither theBush Administration nor the Obama Administration has acceptedTaiwan’s Letter of Request, the first step in the foreign militarysales process. 265 Over the past year, Taiwan officials have repeatedlycalled for the United States to approve the sale of F–16C/Dfighters to Taiwan. During the Commission’s trip to Taiwan, for example,President Ma described how the sale of the F–16C/D fightersis critical in order to offset the shifting of the cross-Strait militarybalance in China’s favor. 266 Despite Taiwan’s repeated attemptsto submit a Letter of Request for the F–16C/D, its inabilityto submit the letter prevents any deliberation of an arms sale fromgoing forward and keeps Taiwan defense planners in suspense overthe possibility of a future sale of the F–16C/D. Immediately afterthe announcement of the potential sale of the F–16A/B upgradepackage, President Ma noted that his administration, while appreciativeof the F–16A/B upgrade, would continue to press for thesale of the 66 F–16C/D fighters. 267Recent Congressional Actions Related to TaiwanArms SalesOver the last year, Members of the U.S. Congress have expressedconcern regarding Taiwan’s ability to defend itself froma Chinese attack. In addition to a number of public statements,Members of Congress have taken the following steps in supportof U.S. arms sales to Taiwan:• On April 13, 2011, Representative Robert Andrews (D–NJ) introducedH.Cong.Res.39, which expresses the sense of Congressthat the president should move forward with the sale toTaiwan of new and upgraded F–16s.• On May 26, Senate Taiwan Caucus Co-Chairmen RobertMenendez (D–NJ) and James Inhofe (R–OK) sent a letter toPresident Obama urging the administration to approve thesale of F–16C/D fighters to Taiwan. The letter was signed by45 senators.• On July 20, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs passedH.R. 2583, The Foreign Relations Authorization Act for FiscalYear 2012. The bill contains language that would require thepresident to take immediate steps to sell to Taiwan both the66 F–16C/D fighters and the upgrade package for Taiwan’s F–16A/B fighters. The bill also requires the sale of the eight diesel-electricsubmarines once Taiwan has budgeted for them.This language was included in the bill through amendmentsoffered by Representatives Howard Berman (D–CA), Dan Burton(R–IN), and Gerry Connolly (D–VA) and passed by voicevotes.dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with $$_JOBVerDate Nov 24 2008 13:46 Nov 10, 2011 Jkt 067464 PO 00000 Frm 00299 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 G:\GSDD\USCC\2011\067464.XXX 067464