Obama hints at shift on Taiwan F-16 sale

The White House has hinted that it may proceed with the sale of Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fighter aircraft to the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) after acknowledging that Taiwan has "a legitimate need" for the aircraft.

The apparent policy change appeared in a 27 April letter to Republican Senator John Cornyn, in which Robert Nabors, assistant to US President Barack Obama and director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, said the administration was giving "serious consideration" to the issue because of "the growing military threat to Taiwan".

Taiwan first requested 66 F-16C/Ds in 2006 and made three more requests for price quotes before the September 2011 announcement that the Obama administration was not prepared to include the aircraft in a USD5.8 billion arms package. The package did include a USD5.3 billion upgrade programme for the island's fleet of 145 F-16A/Bs.

Taiwan says the F-16C/Ds are needed to replace its Dassault Mirage 2000s and Northrop F-5 Tigers.

Cornyn had made the F-16 sale a sticking point in the confirmation of Mark Lippert as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security. Lippert, who in November 2011 testimony said he supported Obama's decision on the F-16C/Ds, was confirmed on 26 April.

Noting that China had 2,300 operational combat aircraft compared with Taiwan's 490, Nabors said in the letter that the administration was "committed to ... addressing the disparity in numbers of aircraft through our work with Taiwan's defence ministry and its development of a comprehensive defence strategy vis-a-vis China".