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Updated Monday, February 8, 2010 10:20 am TWN, By Bunn Nagara, The Star/Asia News Network Lull after storm of U.S. arms saleThe US$6.4 billion deal is said to be part of a US$11 billion package previously agreed to by the George W. Bush administration. China has always protested such arms sales, but this time with greater stridency. In a protest statement last weekend, Beijing suspended military exchanges and several scheduled security talks with the U.S., while warning of setbacks in cooperation on various international issues. It also warned of sanctions against U.S. firms involved in the Taiwan arms deal. The U.S. regards the sale as part of its 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), and as allowing Taiwan to take better care of its own defense while relying less on U.S. military intervention in contingencies. Taipei sees a stronger defense as allowing it to deal more confidently with Beijing, which it has had to do more of in recent years. However, Beijing considers such arms sales as needlessly provocative, even emboldening the pro-independence lobby on Taiwan, since the island's military hardware is pointed only at the Chinese mainland. U.S. and Taiwanese proponents of the deal in turn see the mainland's weapons aimed specifically at Taiwan. All this is now happening despite the best cross-Straits relations in years. The mutual claims, complaints and allegations therefore appear quite paradoxical. What is not officially stated in Taipei is that the Kuomintang (KMT) government of President Ma Ying-jeou is under pressure from the independence-inclined opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which over a number of issues sees the KMT as being too Beijing-friendly. Taipei is due to conclude an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with Beijing within the next few months, which would be a lifeline for Taiwan given the relentless economic pull from Beijing. Although the ECFA could benefit Taiwan more than China in what should be a non-political issue, the DPP has chosen to interpret it in loaded partisan terms. Taiwan is also embroiled in a rough exchange over an earlier ban on imported U.S. beef, involving an incumbent KMT, a populist DPP recently angling for by-election votes, and the U.S. as trading partner. Given these encumbrances, the U.S. arms deal might just seem like a soothing balm for the KMT's political image and fortunes. However, none of it would mitigate Beijing's huffing and puffing. The U.S. weapons systems destined for Taiwan include Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and Osprey-class minesweepers. At the same time, China must also know that the U.S. does not seem too enthusiastic this time in pursuing a fully-fledged arms sale. Taiwan has complained that Washington still refuses to sell the weapons systems it wants most — F16 fighter jets and submarines — while raising the price for other hardware it would sell. Comments |
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1. China must protest, otherwise Chinese people in particular and the whole world in general will regard Chinese government as toothless tiger. And the authority of communist party will be eroded.
2. US has to find some way to dump its out-dated weapons at somewhat a higher price than scrap price so as to help her own economy and let America known that she is not as weak as they think. At the same time, she has the obligation to show Taiwan in particular and Asia in general that she is the sole protector of the free world from communism.
3. It's weird if people of Taiwan feel secure by American weapons and free gift of assurance ( ie American involvement in the event of hypothetical Chinese invasion of Taiwan for exorbitant price for second class weapons). KMT was forced to show its love for Taiwan by buying expensive weapons, otherwise it'll be immediately labeled by green as selling out Taiwan. DPP also has its role in the drama, by challenging China it can derail the warming tie between Mainland and Taiwan.
Conclusion: What a perfect role each has played faithfully at the expense of Taiwanese people.