I'm not seeing how this adds up to 6.4 billion, but i'm sure we're not getting the full scoop on some of the weapons and communications equipment. _____ China warns US over proposed arms sales to Taiwan China has expressed its outrage over a proposed US weapons sale to Taiwan, worth $6.4bn (£4bn), including helicopters and missiles. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said the move would have a "serious negative impact" on co-operation between the US and China. Ties between China and the US are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship. "The United States' announcement of the planned weapons sales to Taiwan will have a seriously negative impact on many important areas of exchanges and co-operation between the two countries," Mr He said. "This will lead to repercussions that neither side wishes to see," he said, urging Washington to halt the planned sale. The Pentagon earlier notified the US Congress of the proposed arms sale, which included helicopters and Patriot anti-missile defences. The weapons are part of a package first pledged by the Bush administration. Friday's notification to Congress by the Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) was required by law. It does not mean the sale has been concluded. US lawmakers have 30 days to comment on the proposed sale, Associated Press reported. If there are no objections, it would proceed. The arms package includes 114 Patriot missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters and communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet, the agency said in a statement. It does not include F-16 fighter jets, an item highly desired by Taiwan's military. The DSCA said the proposed sale would support Taiwan's "continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability." It added: "The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region." full article
This has been in the works for a while and has already affected U.S. relations with China. The repercussions will be long-lasting.
I guess when you spend between a quarter and a half a trillion a year on the crap for three decades, at some point you gotta either use it or sell it. Iraq and Afghanistan make so much more sense now.
Meh. It isn't exactly like China was bending over backwards to be accommodating to the USA until they heard about this.
This is good, the USA needs to keep working to make sure that Chinese power is checked by its neighbors. Our relationship need not be hostile, but a relationship based on mutual economic benefit and a healthy dose of skepticism would do with China. The two countries will never be friends, lets just admit it and move forward. This does not mean the two nations should be enemies either. A healthy balance exists I think, and we are pretty much on that course now. Pragmatism and skepticism are the two words I would use here. The USA has many, many options on the table in terms of countering the threat of Chinese hegemony in East Asia, and the best tool available to it is building strong alliances with its neighbors and maintaining a strong military presence there. As things stand, the USA is effectively maintaining its sphere of influence in East Asia. I still think our relationship with India needs to be strengthened and secured moving forward, this is a must as having a steadfast ally in India in the 21st century will be the best tool available to us in keeping China honest. Balance of power still works.
Good move on the US part. Now let's see if China will oppose anything that US does regarding Iran, or sell arms to Cuba and venezuela, even Canada and Mexico to counter American imperialism.
It's business as usual. The arm sale to Taiwan is just a burden to Taiwan's economy, which can't even survive without the mainland market. It does not help Taiwan's "defense" at all, if the mainland really wants to destroy Taiwan. It only exposes America's hostility to the mainland, and it military complex's greed to rob people in Taiwan of their hard earned tax money in the daylight left and right. America might get away with all it did temporarily, but the political hatred and contemplate toward America will be further implanted in the heart of the Chinese people.
Groovy! We just helped address our trade imbalance a little by selling Taiwan a fraction of what they want, and need, at twice what it probably ought to cost. It would be cheaper and more effective if Taiwan simply gave us that money to support another carrier battle group to cruise in the area.
I've never seen anybody talk about the PRC destroying Taiwan. The Taiwanese traditionally are more concerned about invasion and forced reintegration. The fact that the PLA used to regularly hold invasion war games, and various generals used to drop bellicose quotes about the imminent invasion of Taiwan and veiled threats about nuking Los Angeles probably hasn't done much to assuage their concern.
Sounds like you never get to know the psyche of the Chinese. If anybody in the government hints to back off from trying to reunite Taiwan someday, he is a goner. If Taiwan ever declares to become an independent country, which seems impossible in the foreseeable future, you'll see a catastrophe. PRC is not powerful enough to counteract the military force in east Asia. Every time the two sides of the Taiwan strait get closer, you'll see another arm deal. Guess who is more bellicose. Saying something is one thing, actually doing it is another. I don't know which one is more detrimental to the peace across the strait. The only scenario that the US will back off from the Taiwan issue is that PLA is strong enough to easily destroy the US military complex that exists in East Asia, and the political will to do it. Otherwise we'll just follow jungle rule for now, like the US is doing. Or the PRC starts to sell some of the US bonds, or build up some warship carriers...
Awesome. Anything to help our economy. That said, I never understood the point of this from Taiwan's standpoint. Unless it's more or less a bribe from Taiwan to keep US on its side. If China attacks Taiwan, no amount of American weaponry will allow Taiwan to defend itself successfully. Any reasonable defense must involve our Pacific naval bases. In which case, how are a few Patriot missiles or F-16s matter in the first place?
This would sort of be like GBR selling rifles and artillery to the CSA. Except the USA doesn't own a trillion dollars in British bonds. I think it's sort of pointless.
A war with China over Taiwan would be stupid anyways. Iraq, Afghanistan, and then Taiwan which is around 100 miles off the coast of China? Will Hillary still be begging the PRC to keep buying T-bills to finance this war?
Will China stop buying US Treasuries, leaving the US screwed for a buyer of the billions of US debt? Does that mean the dollar peg is gone, if they stop buying US Treasuries? China is financing our government's debt, so I am a little worried here.
Well, the sentiment I hear from Chinese is that the government doesn't really care too much about a forceful takeover. They just don't want Taiwan to secede. And as long as Taiwan doesn't do that, they're fine with the status quo. Which makes Taiwan buying arms even more stupid. Because they can save a lot of money as long as they play politics nicely with the PRC. It's actually kind of funny. For Americans, we view Taiwan and China as separate entities. So in our minds, it would be China invading Taiwan. But from the PRC standpoint, the status quo is actually Taiwan being part of China. So in their minds(at least from a PR standpoint), they've already taken over Taiwan. And they're simply afraid of Taiwan declaring independence. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the former Taiwanese regime getting to power on the Independence platform, this whole issue probably doesn't even exist.
Why? You really think China would effectively toss its own money down the toilet and destroy its own economy? Internet threats from netizens about treasuries are kind of silly. The only country hurt more by that than the US would be China.
Ever heard of suicidal car bombs? Not that China will definitely choose to do so. China can afford to go back to 20 years ago(oh, no it will not)if it wants, because after all it's still an underdeveloped country, overall. Its people could endure much hardship than the average American. Will the spoiled Americans even think about such kind of things to happen to them? Oh, wait, their living standard remains stagnant for the past 20 years, anyway. So maybe they don't care as well... Let US and China start the war and fight by all means.
bwahahaha, yeah I am sure this is being contemplated by the CCP as we speak. Let's let the yuan go 1:1 to the dollar, kill our economy, and hope we outlast them while we eat dirt since we can eat dirt for longer. THat might work in an RTS game, go back to playing the Zergs.
"bwahahaha"? You speak like a kid and you are short of a sense of humor. But you're not scared, at all. Good for you. Why do you only mention CCP, but not the "Chinese people"? Are you scared of them, Sam?
what if china and taiwan are actually pretty tight now behind the scenes......and taiwan's just buying up all that military equipment so china can reverse engineer the technology and start producing their own fakes :grin:
