Chairman Ros-Lehtinen Opening Statement at Hearing, "Why Taiwan Matters"

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, held a Committee hearing earlier today examining the U.S. relationship with Taiwan. In her opening statement, Ros-Lehtinen expressed her strong commitment to Taiwan's security and her support for the immediate sale of new F-16 fighters to Taiwan, and announced that she will be introducing legislation to strengthen the Taiwan Relations Act. Ros-Lehtinen also expressed her opposition to suggestions that the U.S. should cut ties to Taiwan and seek closer relations with China.

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News & Politics

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• Ros-Lehtinen
• Taiwan
• China
• Taiwan Relations Act
• Tiananmen Square

[rysio92]

These what US guarantees are worth...

[jcs1978]

You gotta judge for yourself and not following the hype. You should worry about China's missiles aiming at Taiwan. Way too premature to worry about China's stealth fighters. Don't blame Gates cause he gave his approval already. The sale got stalled at the State Department. The Dems, Carter, Clinton and Obama, are usually reluctant in selling weapons to Taiwan. I like to see the U.S. upgrading Taiwan's airforce and navy with some serious ground attack capibility cause you can only defend so much.

[Shinkai071]

@jcs1978 you fail to understand the taiwan and its real needs.. if we are to buy more useful U.S weapons we'll have to wait for another ten years. which by then China will have its first fleet of stealth fighters ready. plus the F-16C/D is no longer an advantage in the sky. at least the 260 F-16 E/F would be needed to boost Taiwan's air power. also atleast eight attack subs would be needed. and thanks to Mr.Gates who loves China so much, We couldn't get any!!!!

[jcs1978]

@Shinkai071 Fail? You failed.

[Shinkai071]

@jcs1978 fail

[jcs1978]

@Shinkai071 hahaha...Middle East? There is no pilot to talk to about it.

[Shinkai071]

@jcs1978 Tell that to the pilot who had his F-117 shot down over the middle east.

[jcs1978]

@Shinkai071 How can Taiwan itself upgrade and modify American weapons? U.S. junk weapons are still better than most weapons around the world.

[Shinkai071]

@jcs1978 why not research and upgrade weapons like stealth missile crafts or better engine on all aircraft. and upgrade C-130H to a more modern version. or configure the helicopters to one suitable for Taiwan's environment so they dont crash... In my opinion research and upgrading is our only hope. spending more and more on U.S junk weapons would only make us the joke of the world. and its time wasting.

[jcs1978]

@ilvtofku Taiwan needs ground attack ability to counter China.