[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 27 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SUPPORTING TAIWAN'S REQUEST FOR PURCHASE OF F 16 C/Ds

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 17, 2012

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, as a long-time member of the Congressional 
Taiwan Caucus and as a Member of Congress who has frequent interaction 
with the Taiwanese American constituents in my district, I rise today 
to bring an issue to your attention, which can no longer be delayed.
  I would like to comment on how our relationship with Taiwan 
intermingles with the local economy of North Texas.
  Taiwan seeks to procure more than five dozen F 16 C/Ds from the 
United States that are proudly built in North Texas. These negotiations 
have been underway since 2006. It is important that this deal not be 
further delayed. The Administration has resisted the sale and has 
rather suggested selling Taiwan upgrades for its older F 16 A/Bs. I 
find this to be a very inadequate position that jeopardizes Taiwan's 
future defensive capabilities and will result in a hit to the North 
Texas economy.
  Taiwan seeks the F 16 C/Ds solely for defensive purposes. This is 
very apparent given the increasing number of short and medium-range 
ballistic missiles aimed at the island by its neighbor, the People's 
Republic of China. At current there are more than 1,400 missiles aimed 
at Taiwan from the other side of the Taiwan Strait. I am afraid that 
China continues to add to the number of missiles pointed at Taiwan and 
that this number is only expected to increase over time.
  The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which has been the cornerstone 
of United States-Taiwan relations for decades, 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.'' We need to abide by 
our TRA commitments and support the defensive capabilities of Taiwan.
  I would like to call attention to legislation introduced by my 
colleague, Congresswoman Kay Granger, which seeks to remedy this 
situation. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in cosponsoring H.R. 
2992, the Taiwan Airpower Modernization Act of 2011. Senator John 
Cornyn has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. This bipartisan 
legislation will direct the President to authorize the sale of no fewer 
than 66 F 16 C/Ds to Taiwan. We cannot continue to delay on this issue, 
as the production line for F 16s will only remain open for a limited 
additional amount of time. Once the F 16 production line closes, then 
we will have missed this opportunity to increase the defensive 
capabilities of Taiwan and provide a significant economic boost to the 
North Texas economy.
  Iwill continue to work towards increasing our already strong 
relations with the people of Taiwan. I believe that the best way 
forward for improving these relations and helping our North Texas 
economy is to approve the sale of the F 16 C/Ds to Taiwan.

                          ____________________