China urged not to be afraid of 'a strong Taiwan'

Gregson said that although he did not plan to discuss what the Obama administration considers to be “the right tools” for Taiwan, he assured his audience that “this administration will not waver in its commitment to provide those defense articles and services necessary for Taiwan's self-defense.”

The Sept. 27-29 conference is the eighth annual event addressing the future of U.S. defense cooperation with Taiwan, the defense procurement process, and Taiwan's defense and national security needs.

Also attending the conference is Republic of China Deputy Minister of National Defense Chao Shih-chang.

Asked by reporters if the Obama administration's arms sales policy toward Taiwan is being increasingly contained by Beijing, Chao said he does not think this is the case.

Asked whether the chances of the U.S. selling F-16C/D fighters to Taiwan are slim, Chao also said he did not think so.

Tan Chih-lung, director-general of the Defense Mission of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, pointed out that many people in Taiwan see U.S. willingness to sell the aircraft to Taiwan as an indicationof whether Taiwan U.S. relations have improved.

Realizingthat the diplomaticpolicies adopted by former President Chen Shui-bian damaged the mutual trust between Taiwan and the United States, Ma has been seeking to rebuild Taiwan-U.S. mutual trust since his inauguration in May 2008, Tan said.

According to Tan, Taiwan has conveyed its strong desire to purchase the F 16C/D fighters but understands that Washington cannot make a decision on the matter immediately because of the many considerations involved.

While Taiwan can keep waiting, it must make the United States realize that the delay will undermine Taiwan's military power, which is not a development that Washington would like to see, he said.

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