By Elaine Hou

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou again called on the U.S. to sell Taiwan weapons such as F-16 C/D fighters to help maintain the nation’s defense capabilities in the face of the escalating military threat from mainland China.

“We are grateful for Washington’s approval of U.S. arms sales to Taipei in 2008 and 2010,” Ma said June 28. “But to maintain a robust defense, Taiwan now needs F-16 C/Ds, diesel-electric submarines and upgrades for our F-16 A/B jets.”

Ma made the remarks while receiving Raymond F. Burghardt, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, at the Presidential Office in Taipei. Burghardt is on a five-day visit to Taiwan that wraps up June 30.

According to the president, maintaining the cross-strait status quo has become increasingly difficult in the face of Beijing’s continuing military buildup.

“Our procurement of these weapons is in full accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and purely for self-defense purposes,” Ma said. “The arms cannot be manufactured on the island and will be used to replace aging equipment.”

The president said Taiwan has budgeted for the weapons and can make payment upon U.S. approval of the sale.

Ma also took the opportunity to express Taiwan’s wish to resume discussions with the U.S. under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.

Talks between the two sides, scheduled to take place in January after a three-year hiatus, were put on ice after Taiwan refused to allow imports of beef containing traces of the banned drug ractopamine.

Relevant government agencies have been working to resolve this issue and determine how regulations might be amended, Ma said, adding that U.S. beef products remain tremendously popular with consumers in Taiwan.

In addition, the president hopes Taiwan will be allowed to participate in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program now that its U.S. visa rejection rate has dropped below 3 percent, and first-time ROC passport applicants are required to lodge their paperwork in person beginning next month.

Taiwan Today, Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan), 29.06.2011

Die Presseabteilung der Taipeh Vertretung mit Sitz in Berlin bietet folgende Dienstleistungen an: Erläuterung der Politik und der Entwicklung der Republik China (Taiwan), Verbreitung von Stellungnahmen und Pressemitteilungen von taiwanischer Seite sowie Beantwortung von Fragen über das Land;
Angebot von Informationsmaterial über Taiwan in deutscher, englischer, und chinesischer Sprache (Broschüren, Filme, Videos, DVDs, Diafilme, CDs);
Anlaufstelle für deutsche Medienvertreter, Angebot von Informationsreisen nach Taiwan für deutsche Journalisten;
Organisation von Veranstaltungen mit dem Ziel, Kontakte zwischen Deutschland und Taiwan zu vertiefen (Vorträge, Seminare, Ausstellungen, Filmfestivals etc.);
Sonstige Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Presseabteilung Taipeh Vertretung
Markgrafenstraße 35
10117 Berlin

This release was published on openPR.