Military.com
Date: 24 Mar 2019
By: Dimitri Bruyas

Pilots walk pass a Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jet during military exercises in Hsinchu, northern of Taiwan, Jan. 16, 2019. Taiwan’s military started a two-day joint forces exercises to show its determination to defend itself from Chinese threats. (Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo)

Soon after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen admitted to filing an official procurement plan for 66 F-16V to the U.S., President Trump reportedly provided a “tacit approval” to the matter, even though a formal proposal from Department of Defense and Department of State is needed for Congress to make further decisions.

Before the process of the request, the Trump administration is already known for having encouraged Taiwan to buy weapons from the U.S., and the White House so far has refused to comment nor confirm the issue.

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang criticized the news on March 22, saying that China urged the U.S. to stop the military transaction with Taiwan, which China believes is a breakaway province.

Since Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush last sold 160 F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan in 1992, succeeding U.S. administrations, including former president Obama, have long refused to sell any fighter jets to Taiwan in fear of angering China.    [FULL  STORY]