Following deadly jet fighter crash, Taipei presses Washington for new aircraft

Two ageing F-5 fighters F5 crashed into a mountain in the east of Taiwan, and the deaths of the three airforce pilots triggered new demands for a US arms sale. While Taiwan's democratic candidate criticises president Ma and says: “We support peace, but we do want security from China”. For the first time in 10 years the State Department may shirk the US-Taiwan industry conference on defence and security.

Taipei– Taiwan's army aircraft are now no more than "flying coffins", and the United States must sell new fighters to the Island: “This is no longer a question of simply defence. The lives of our military are at risk”. This is the unanimous reaction of society and politics in former Formosa following the deadly fighter crash on 13 September in which all three pilots lost their lives.
On Tuesday two Taiwan 'Air force ' F5 fighters disappeared from radar shortly after take-off from Hualian base in the east of the Island. The two jets were seen by eye witnesses as they crashed in the nearby mountainous area: although the causes of the accident are still to be ascertained, Taiwan officials blame the age of the jets. The bodies of the three pilots were found yesterday.

Luo Shou-he, national army spokesman, confirmed the accident and renewed a call to the US government in Washington to unfreeze the sale of new F16 aircraft: “We are in dire need of replacements ”. Taiwan airforce fleet comprises mainly aircraft built some 35 years ago: China however, which considers the Island no more than a 'rebel province' under its own control, is pushing the US to cancel the arms sale.

Washington, according to the “Taiwan Defence Act”, in theory is obliged to sell Taipei all the arms it needs for defence against mainland China. But economic pressures from Beijing and the coming to power of Ma Yingjeou – a nationalist who has made several openings towards mainland China– had brought the situation to a standstill. However the question is now back in the news, with the US increasingly wary of angering Beijing.

Precisely yesterday came confirmation that for the first time in 10 years, there will be no leading member of the US State department at the up-coming US-Taiwan industry conference on defence and security ties between the two countries. The gathering is to be held in Virginia 18 to 20 September. However the conference will see the attendance of a leading member of the Pentagon.

A new voice in the Taiwan arms sales debate is that of Tsai Ing-wen, Democratic Party candidate set to challenge Ma in presidential elections next January. On a recent visit to Washington, Ms Tsai acknowledged that during this democratic presidency – licensed to Chen Shui-bian, independence champion from the very beginning – relations between the two states have been “difficult” but, she underlined: “We have grown together with our democracy”.

Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, she added: “Our approach to China will be stable and balanced ”. But immediately criticised the president in office because, while asking the United States to go ahead with the sale of new aircraft to Taiwan,, “she has failed to set aside the promised 3 % of the GNP for the purchase of arms. We support peace but we also want to security”.

America's President Barack Obama is expected to come to a decision on the US - Taiwan F 16 sale before the end of this present month of September.

(AsiaNews)