This archive report was first published on 30 July 2019.
July 30, 2019
US lawmakers have accused President Trump and his aides of delaying the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, citing concerns over China's growing influence in the region.
The delay is seen as a reflection of the White House's reluctance to antagonize China, with which the US has a complex relationship. This hesitation is reminiscent of the White House's decision not to impose sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 antiaircraft system.
“Using Taiwan as a bargaining chip in our economic relationship with China plays right into Beijing’s hands and only leaves Taiwan more vulnerable to Chinese coercion,” said Kelly E. Magsamen, the Pentagon’s top Asia-Pacific policy official at the end of the Obama administration.
Taiwan has been seeking to upgrade its aging fleet of F-16s for over a decade, but previous administrations have been hesitant to approve the sales. In 2011, the Obama administration decided to refurbish Taiwan’s existing fleet instead.
However, tensions between China and Taiwan have been rising in recent weeks, with Beijing announcing military exercises near the Taiwan Strait on July 14. The US has been sending naval ships through the Taiwan Strait in freedom-of-navigation actions, including a rare passage by a French warship in April.
