Cornyn Statement on Obama Administration’s Decision to Defer A Sale of F-16s

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today made the following statement after the Obama Administration announced the decision to defer the sale of F-16s to Taiwan:

“Today’s decision bestows upon Communist China a newfound sway over American national security, and this capitulation should be met with concern by U.S. allies everywhere.

“Taiwan must have the tools to defend itself against potential Chinese aggression, and this decision not to sell Taiwan new F-16C/Ds represents a failure by the Administration to live up to its obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act.”

Last week Sens. Cornyn and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced legislation to require the Obama Administration to sell 66 new F-16C/D multirole fighter jets to Taiwan. Yesterday Sen. Cornyn filed this bill as amendment to HR 2832, the Trade Adjustment Assistance bill that’s currently being considered on the Senate floor.

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.