[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     U.S. AND TAIWAN'S AIR DEFENSE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 2010

  Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue of 
concern to me and to my Taiwanese American constituents.
  Today's Taiwan is a strong ally of the United States that shares with 
us the ideals of freedom, democracy, and self-determination. Taiwan 
enjoys elements of independence, although Taiwan continues to be under 
an ominous shadow cast by the over 1400 short and medium-range 
ballistic missiles that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has aimed 
in its direction. China continues to refuse to renounce the use of 
force against Taiwan, continues to claim Taiwan as a renegade province, 
and in 2005 passed an ``Anti-Secession Law'' that mandated military 
action if Taiwan moves towards formal and legal independence. The U.S. 
Congress quickly and strongly condemned China for this action with a 
vote on the House Floor.
  A 2009 Pentagon report on the military power of the PRC stated that 
``in the near-term, China's armed forces are rapidly developing 
coercive capabilities for the purpose of deterring Taiwan's pursuit of 
de jure independence.'' It added that these ``same capabilities could 
in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the 
cross-Strait dispute on Beijing's terms while simultaneously attempting 
to deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in 
case of conflict.''
  Madam Speaker, the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act is the cornerstone of 
United States-Taiwan relations and the ``Law of the Land.'' It declares 
that it is the policy of the United States ``to consider any effort to 
determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including 
by boycotts or embargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the 
Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States.''
  Furthermore, section 3(b) of the Act stipulates that both the 
President and the Congress shall determine the nature and quantity of 
such defense articles and services `based solely' upon their judgment 
of the needs of Taiwan.
  On January 29, 2010 the Obama Administration notified Congress of a 
long-awaited package of arms sale to Taiwan, totaling US$ 6.4 billion. 
The package included 114 Patriot PAC-3 missiles, 60 Black Hawk 
helicopters, 12 Harpoon missiles for training purposes, two Osprey-
class refurbished mine hunters and military communication equipment. 
However, not included in the package were 66 F-16 C/D fighter aircraft, 
which Taiwan requested in 2006.
  Prior to the notification, in a report dated 21 January 2010, the 
U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency made an assessment of the status of 
Taiwan's air defense. It concluded that Taiwan's air defense is showing 
increasing vulnerability due to the aging of the air force fighter 
aircraft.
  Madam Speaker, let me conclude my remarks with urging my esteemed 
colleagues to join me in requesting the Obama administration to 
immediately move ahead with the sale of F-16s to Taiwan at this time. 
One of the main reasons to move now is that the production of the F-16s 
is nearing its end, as more countries are switching to the advanced F-
35 Joint Strike Fighter.

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