The comments by Stephen Young, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), come a few days after Chinese authorities raised the issue during their first high-level bilateral military talks with their American counterpart in 18 months -- Beijing suspended the talks in late 2007 because of the same concerns.

Speaking to reporters at a biannual press conference held in Taipei, Young pointed out that the Obama administration will consider the contentious sale of F-16 C/D fighter jets to Taipei authorities after key American officials are settled into their jobs.

"As (senior officials) get into place, they will continue to look closely into this whole question," Young said, adding Washington does not consult with Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan.

He cited Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, National Security adviser Jeffrey Bader, and Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallace Gregson as key officials who could be involved in the F-16 matter, based on the U.S.-Taiwan framework managed by the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington's One-China policy and the Three Communiques.

"The decisions themselves will be made by Washington under that framework at a time and in a nature that reflects our own national interests as well as our commitments to Taiwan," he remarked.

Taiwan initially requested the F-16s during the administration of former President Chen Shui-bian, who said they were necessary to help Taiwan counter a decade-long Chinese military buildup.

Since assuming office 13 months ago, President Ma Ying-jeou has said repeatedly that he too wants the F-16s, despite his policy of pushing for better relations with Beijing.

"What President Ma is saying is that he wants to continue this security cooperation precisely to enable him to negotiate with confidence on a variety of issues with his large neighbor across the Strait," he said.

Although American policy makers very much take note and welcome the reduction of tensions between Taiwan and its neighbor across the Strait, Young stressed that Washington is also aware of the relentless buildup of military strength by the People's Republic of China, much of it directed precisely toward Taiwan.

"The Obama administration will calculate the requests of our Taiwan friends in that light and at an appropriate time will make decisions about what types of defensive weapons it might make the most sense to provide this island," he said.

Asked whether the Taiwan issue is still the biggest landmine of Washington-Beijing relations, Young explained that there have been times when one side of the Taipei and Washington triangle has been stronger than the others, but noted that one of the broader promising aspects of the current moment is that all three sides are "very strong" -- that is, between Taipei and Beijing, between Beijing and Washington, and between Washington and Taipei.

"That's good and is welcomed by my capital and my government," he said, before brushing aside concerns about the transfer of military technology from Taiwan.

"I think that Taiwan has very effective means of controlling that technology, and as President Ma himself has said, the relationship with China is going to unfold very slowly and over many, many years," he added.

Young, the top U.S. official in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, is scheduled to leave Taiwan in July after concluding his three-year term as AIT director.