Washington, Sept 19 (ANI): The United States has reportedly decided not to sell new F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, but plans to upgrade that country's existing fleet.
The decision, which will be announced soon, was recently shared with Congressional staff members, and prompted criticism that America is buckling to pressure from China.
According to the administration, upgrading the old jets would allow Taiwan to defend itself but would avoid opening a major rift with China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and opposes any arms sales to the country.
The reasoning, however, did not satisfy Taiwan's supporters in Congress, the New York Times reports.
In the wake of the reports, Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, "the capitulation to Communist China by the Obama administration marks a sad day in American foreign policy, and it represents a slap in the face to a strong ally and longtime friend."
According to the earlier plans, the US was bound to sell Taiwan the F-16's under a 1979 law that requires Washington to provide the island with arms sufficient to defend itself.
Administration officials, while not confirming the decision, said that upgrading Taiwan's fleet of 145 F-16's makes sense because the work would be faster and cheaper than building new planes, the paper said. (ANI)
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