Taipei: Taiwan's Defense Ministry has
confirmed a US agreement to upgrade the island's fleet of F-16
A/B warplanes.
In a text message today, it said the defence minister
"will hold a news conference to elaborate on the US decision
to upgrade the planes." It was the first official confirmation
of the deal.
The message made no mention of Taiwan's original desire
to purchase the later-generation F-16 C/D planes.
US congressional officials have said
that the Obama administration is rejecting that request, and
instead upgrading Taiwan's existing planes.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, September 22, 2011, 00:37