The US has agreed to sell AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missile to Taiwan, in order to help the island keep comparative air advantages over the Taiwan Straits, a Taiwan air force officer said on July 2, according to a report by China News Service.
The Taiwan authorities purchased 200 AIM-120 missiles from the US in September 2000, which have been stored in bases on US land due to US policy limitations.
West media reported that China had successfully launched AA-12 Adder air-to-air missile last week, which "has so far not been informed" according to Chinese FM spokesman on Tuesday, and the US agreed to deliver these missiles to help this Chinese island province build up its military force against the mainland. Preparatory work has been done to transport these missiles, according to US military sources.
Besides, a batch of computer equipment worth US$5.33 million will also be provided to raise the combat capability of F-16 fighter, the Pentagon said.
As reported, the computer Taiwan is using in F-16 is out-of-date MMC-3000, on which can not be installed LINK-16 system used for air-sea wars. After being installed MMC-3051, the F-16 could catch up with fighters serving the US air force, for the computer is capable to contact and exchange messages with US ET-3 early warning plane, warship and ground troop so as to join forces together.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao reiterated China's stand of strongly opposing US's arm sales to Taiwan on July 2.
( July 4, 2002)
