US announces $6B arms sale to Taiwan
In a move sure to aggravate China, the Obama administration on Friday announced plans for more than $6 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island the Chinese claim as their own.
The sale would include Black Hawk helicopters, Patriot missiles, mine-hunting ships and information technology. Lawmakers have 30 days to comment before the plan proceeds; senior lawmakers have traditionally supported arms sales to Taiwan.
Calling in U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman on Saturday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said the United States would be responsible for “serious repercussions” if it did not reverse the decision to sell Taiwan $6.4 billion worth of helicopters, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles, minesweepers and communications gear. The reaction came even though China has known for months about the planned deal, U.S. officials said.
How much of our debt do they own? How much do they buy? What would be the impact on our deficit if China decided to skip buying any debt from us this year? It wasn’t that long ago that he was over there being nice-nice, I’m a big supporter of Tiawan but I think Obama may regret this one.
pogo says
…what thens compels you to to write this post…your abject hatred of anything Obama?
<
p>Can you stop your knee-jerk impulse to criticize anything Obama and write a post that discusses the historical, BIPARTISAN policy of the United States to support Taiwan, in the face of new geo-political and economic realities…instead of a mindless one-off slap at a President that you just don’t like?
<
p>Personally, the issue of Taiwan is a cold war relict and I don’t think we need to invest political capital in this area. As for the arms sales…sadly in the free-market of arms sales, if we don’t let our companies enrich themselves, the British or the French or the Israeli’s will.
johnd says
I support many things which I also criticize. I also give credit to people whom I overall disagree with. I support the independence of Taiwan. I also think Obama should be careful because if China stops buying our bonds it will have a big impact on “our” economy so I care!
pogo says
…I will then infer that you are the biggest Obama supporter at BMG.
christopher says
…but I am absolutely ecstatic that we are supporting Taiwan in this way. I’ve felt for a long time that the United States should be first in line to support formalized independence from the mainland, diplomatic recognition, and readmission to the UN. I get so tired of us kowtowing to the PRC regarding such things as visas for the Taiwanese President and White House photo ops with the Dalai Lama.