U.S. arms sales will resume: AIT chair

Denouncing local media reports that claim the contrary, Raymond F. Burghardt, Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said that the number of missiles has “continued to grow” and that it can only be viewed as “a form of threat.”

Currently there are almost 1,500 Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan. The U.S. will continue to provide defense weapons due to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the AIT chairman said although he did not specify a timeline for future arm sales.

In a blunt personal statement, Burghardt added, “If arms sales to Taiwan came to a complete stop, you will also see progress in cross-strait relations grind to a halt.”

During his four-day trip to Taiwan, Burghardt addressed the recent talks between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, dispelling what he viewed as “cliches” proclaiming China's leverage over the U.S. on the Taiwan issue or that U.S. arms sales slow the progress of cross-strait relations.

That mentality, along with speculative theories implying that Washington has exaggerated the tensions between Taiwan and China in order to make money from arms sales are all ways that discourage confidence-building talks in Taiwan, Burghardt argued.

After separate meetings with President Ma Ying-jeou and National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi, Burghardt said both men were “upbeat” regarding the U.S.-China talks.

On October 29, Ma publicly stated that the U.S. had stalled Taiwan's request for F-16 jet fighters due to Chinese disapproval. Burghardt said sales of the F-16 are currently being evaluated.

Burghardt said Taiwan was not a central topic in the discussions, adding that in the private talks between Obama and Hu, China was more interested in, “trying to score points in the Tibet issue than with Taiwan.”

In his joint press statement with Hu on November 17, Obama said while the U.S. recognized Tibet as part of the People's Republic of China, it supported “dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama.”

Obama also applauded the eased tensions between Taiwan and China, which have mainly occurred during the Ma administration. Burghardt maintained that the official U.S. cross-strait position hoped for the issues to be “resolved peacefully with the assent of the people on both sides.”

In his trip, the AIT chairman also met with Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, Premier Wu Den-yi, Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan and opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.

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