FINALLY: US to Release $6 Billion Arms Package to Taiwan

Well, it's about time!

You'll remember the miserable and maddening delays.

Maybe I should say that it's better than nothing, but I still don't think it's good enough.

News blurb:

The US plans to sell $6.5bn in weapons to Taiwan as part of a long-awaited package intended to boost the island’s ability to defend itself.

The Bush administration on Friday notified Congress of the proposed sale, which includes Patriot missiles, Apache helicopters, submarine-launched Harpoon missiles, Javelin anti-tank missiles and spare parts for F-16 fighter jets.

Taiwan will welcome the package following earlier signs that the US might not proceed with the sales. Admiral Timothy Keating, head of US Pacific Command, ignited controversy earlier this year by saying the US had frozen arms sales to Taiwan.

The move comes as relations between Taipei and Beijing continue to improve under since Ma Ying-jeou assumed office as the new Taiwanese president in May. But the package is significantly less than an earlier $12bn proposal, and does not include Blackhawk helicopters or money to study the possibility of acquiring diesel submarines.

Also, on a related note, I wish reporters would stop cheerleading for Ma. They're the only people really doing it. Certainly the Taiwanese aren't -- the guy's approval rating is about 30% or about half what it was when he took office.

A bit more on the Taiwan defense package here and here (also noting that this is Taiwan's first purchase of Patriot missiles). The WaPo article also notes this:

A Taiwanese defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Taiwan would continue to lobby for two items omitted from the package announced Friday -- a feasibility study to build diesel electric submarines and 60 Black Hawk utility helicopters. Taiwan will also push the United States to sell it about 60 F-16 C/D fighters, the official said.

Andrew Yang, a military analyst with the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies, said the items may have been excluded as a U.S concession to China.

Yang said the sale, which the U.S. Congress must still approve, was largely symbolic because China has more than 1,000 missiles pointed at the island and Taiwan's defensive capabilities remain limited.

"Taiwan cannot ward off Beijing's all-out strike," Yang said. "The sale is symbolic, showing the U.S. is committed to helping Taiwan defend itself."

Symbolic or not, I want these weapons and I want them NOW. I wanted them YESTERDAY.

Predictable Beijing whine here.