FOX NEWS INTERVIEW: The US defense secretary said the Trump administration was not the first to sell F-16s to Taiwan, adding that he expected US arms sales to continue
Taipei Times
Date: Aug 27, 2019
By: Chen Yu-fu, Lu Yi-hsuan and Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporters, with staff writer and CNA
Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday thanked the US for boosting Taiwan’s self-defense
Premier Su Tseng-chang speaks to the media at the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
The purchase of F-16V jets is a “huge breakthrough” and crucial to Taiwan’s self-defense, Su said.
“Everyone knows that only by showing our strong determination to defend ourselves can sovereignty and security be maintained,” he said, adding that the deal has received support from Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, as well as the legislative caucuses of the Democratic Progressive Party and opposition parties.
According to a transcript by the Chicago-based RealClearPolitics of Wednesday’s interview, Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin asked Esper: “The F-16 sales to Taiwan have angered China. Isn’t that provocative on the US’ part and will there be more arms sales to Taiwan?”
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