Cornyn Statement on Obama Administration's Reported Decision Not to Sell F-16s to Taiwan

Press Release

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) today made the following statement after it was reported that the Obama Administration has decided to deny the sale of new F-16 fighter jets to the government of Taiwan:

"If the reports are true, today's 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 long time friend.

"This sale would have been a win-win, bolstering the national security of two democratic nations and supporting jobs for an American workforce that desperately needs them."

Sens. Cornyn and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on Monday introduced legislation to require the Obama Administration to sell 66 new F-16C/D multirole fighter jets to Taiwan. The Taiwan Airpower Modernization Act of 2011 will help bring the United States into compliance with its legal obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to provide Taiwan with the military equipment it needs to maintain its self-defense capabilities.

Several recent letters to the President have demonstrated overwhelming bipartisan congressional support for the sale of new F-16C/Ds to Taiwan. A recent study done by a private consulting firm estimates that the sale of 66 new F-16 aircraft to Taiwan would generate approximately $8.7 billion in economic output and nearly 88,000 "person-years' of employment across the U.S.

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