Local media reported that Taiwan’s Chief of the General Staff Huo Shou-yeh (霍守業) is currently visiting the US to lobby for the sale of 66 F-16C/D to Taiwan. Although next year is also the election year in the US, the current President Bush is already in his second term and not seeking for re-election like then President Bush. So this time it is going to be tough for Taiwan. But I expect the sale will eventually go through.
Back to 1992. Right after President George H. W. Bush announced the sale of 150 F-16A/B to Taiwan, China immediately delivered a protest to the US government. The following document is part of the EAP press guidance issued on Sept. 3, 1992. (EAP is the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the State Department.)
Later in that month, Chinese Foreign Minister met with the acting Secretary of State of the US. Again, the focus of the meeting was the F-16 sale. The following memo was issued on Sept. 25, 1992.
I hope the presidential candidate who implied the F-16 sale in 1992 could be attributed to the so-called “1992 Common Understanding” will wake up from his dreams soon. China will never reach any “common understanding” with Taiwan regarding arms purchase!
Lloyd Evans, Chairman of 823 Badge of Honor Association USA, has urged the members to write their congressmen to support the F-16 sale. Thank you, Lloyd! I also want to thank Vincent Acquaviva Jr. to bring this matter to Lloyd’s attention.