US offers Taiwan huge missile package

[whirlygigspin]

US$500 MILLION DEAL: The sale, requested by Taiwan, involves the purchase of almost 600 sophisticated weapons to arm the military's fleet of F-16 fighter jets

By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Friday, Mar 02,2007
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/03/02/2003350599


"The sale of AMRAAM and Maverick missiles to Taiwan "augments and complements the recipient's F-16 fleet. The recipient uses AMRAAM and Maverick missiles to enhance its defense capabilities. Acquisition of AMRAAM and Maverick missiles will allow the recipient to protect and defend Taiwan," the agency said...delivery of the first AMRAAMs was delayed for nearly two years because of a condition imposed by Washington that the sale would have to wait until China acquired similar missiles from Russia. The deliveries were made in early 2002 after China obtained AA12 air-to-air missiles from Moscow.


The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems Corp of Tucson, Arizona.

Also note that the US refused to offer Taiwan the F-35 Lightning II."

[ClintonTyree]

1. That's gotta make the Chinese happy.

I'm sure something like this will be a great bargaining chip when attempting to get the Chinese to revalue their currency. :eyes:

It seems our country's only exports these days are death delivery systems. We are the world leader in producing new and innovative methods of dispensing death. We should be so proud. :sarcasm:

[MGD]

4. America isn't the only merchant of death in this world.

Furthermore, I'm one of those people that believes Taiwan has the legal right to self-determination too. I wouldn't be comfortable sacrificing them to the Chinese as some have suggested. What's more, we have long abided by the six assurances which explicitly state that, among other things, we reserve the right to sell arms to Taiwan without stipulation. If Taiwan wants missiles, we should sell them as many as they want.

[xchrom]

2. a huge missile package?

:evilgrin:

[HeeBGBz]

5. US sexually harassing Taiwan?

Someone should check into that...

[Eugene]

3. AP: U.S. Urged to Reject Taiwan Missile Sale

U.S. Urged to Reject Taiwan Missile Sale


Saturday March 3, 2007 12:46 PM

AP Photo XED108

By JOE McDONALD

Associated Press Writer

BEIJING (AP) - China pressed visiting Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte
on Saturday to reject a proposed sale of missiles to Taiwan, the self-ruled island
that Beijing claims as its own territory.

Negroponte was visiting Beijing on a three-nation Asian tour focused on North
Korea and regional security.

In his meetings with Chinese officials, “the Chinese side expressed that it is firmly
opposed to the export and sale of weapons to Taiwan and the United States
maintaining official relations with Taiwan,” said Qin Gang, a Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman.

An American Embassy spokeswoman said the U.S. government had no comment on
the meetings.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6454657,00.html