Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Re: Rafale Hampered by Cost

Roger604 said:

Hey what happened to Fu Manchu?? He hasn't appeared on the board since around March 28.

It would be good to hear his opinion about the freezing of arms sales.

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Yea, it would be nice to hear some opinions on this issue. Its that feeling again, that the KMT went into administration and on goes the warning bell for the US not to sell sensitive military equipment to a China-friendly Taiwan. I'm going to leave it at that before this gets political.

This news is a little shocking, but not exactly surprising. Well, even with the KMT firmly back in power, Washington is getting cold feet once again. I seem to recall something crobato kept mentioning in another thread about if Taiwan wants ew subs (amongst other things), it has to pay the price to do it itself.

And yes, Roger and kliu0, we really could use Fu back here on the Forum. It's rather odd around here without him posting, and he's one of our best. Even when I disagree (and I usually do agree with him) with what he says, when Fu talks, I listen.

Just $12 billion?

I would expect it to be more, considering how expensive those submarines are.

Washington was annoyed when DPP was in power because of Taiwan independence. Now Washington is getting cold feet because of KMT in power. I don't ever believe Washington being happy with anyone in power. Wonder what would happen if a small minority group came into power? Would Washington be sell sell sell for weapons to Taiwan? XD

Yea Taiwan has to pay part of the price for the submarine program. But I heard that the 4 major companies wanting to build em has lobbied hard for Washington to pay part of that money too. The main reason is that this will create short-medium term jobs and reduce the dependency upon the government for monetary assistance by the soon to be formerly unemployed.

Washington should really speed up the submarine program. Taiwan needs the submarines now, and should unfreeze the funds for new equipment. I mean that doesn't even go in line with the Taiwan Relations Act. Thats a law, if the US doesn't sell, the US is breaking their own law.

Skywatcher said:

Just $12 billion?

I would expect it to be more, considering how expensive those submarines are.

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The submarines are alot cheaper than that of the Nuclear powered submarines, dont forget that they are still in the dicussion process with the USA. No one has even decided that they're going to be built.

It depends on how one reads the law.

Catch is though, Washington was going to sell them. But now they've frozen them. We won't know how long this is going to go on for. Thats the troubling part. I mean Bush can sell all the weapons he wants now and he won't get into trouble because a new admin is going to take place next January. All I hope is that he sells them this year, The Apache 64D, UH-60s, F-16s, PAC III Batteries and the new submarines. Taiwan really needs a boost in modernized weapons to defend itself and also to boost the morale of the people of Taiwan.

Best time to move the package is when you just have a fresh new administration in place but don't prolong it afterwards or you will lose the opportunity.

Presidential administrations tend to start with being anti-China in the start, but becoming very pro-China in the end

Really? I always thought that the end of a dying administration would be the best time. I mean referring to George Bush Senior when he was president. I'm just not sure if Obama or even Mcain becomes President he'll be selling weapons if George Bush Junior doesn't

kliu0 said:

Really? I always thought that the end of a dying administration would be the best time. I mean referring to George Bush Senior when he was president. I'm just not sure if Obama or even Mcain becomes President he'll be selling weapons if George Bush Junior doesn't

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Look at all the presidents since Nixon. Very anti China at the start, very pro-China in the end. Hence China does not like the constantly changing presidents, because it always presents an unknown factor, and sometimes often brings ideological naiveness to the office. After a while they become tempered to political and pragmatic realities, which generally becomes more favorable to China.

Best time to hit this would be when Obama or McCain is new. Once they have settled in the middle or later in their terms, the deal would be harder to follow up.