F-16s and Cross-Strait Relations

Today the Los Angeles Times published a letter I wrote regarding U.S.-China-Taiwan relations.

***

Not sold on F-16 diplomacy

In recommending the United States leverage not selling F-16 jets to Taiwan for better U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, Professor Dennis V. Hickey overlooks three key points.

First, the U.S. has formally assured Taipei that Washington will not hold prior consultations with Beijing regarding arms sales to Taiwan.

Second, while it would be a significant and welcome gesture if China pulled back missiles currently aimed at Taiwan, the military reality is that Beijing could easily redeploy those missiles whenever it wanted.

Third, the U.S. has a legal commitment to Taiwan's defense because of a strategic interest in a stable balance across the Taiwan Strait.

For these reasons, the decision to sell F-16s to Taiwan should be based on consultations between Washington and Taipei, considering security and budgetary factors as well as diplomatic ones.

Beijing has the ability to positively influence the decision-making process – by willingly reducing its military posture toward Taiwan. Doing so could facilitate a landmark summit between the presidents of China and Taiwan, without the U.S. cutting deals that might hurt more than help.