Asia-Pacific News
Taiwan's Ma backs buying new fighter jets from US (Extra)
Mar 22, 2008, 7:58 GMT
Taipei - Taiwan's opposition presidential candidate Ma Ying- jeou said Saturday that if he wins the election, he will support buying F-16 C/D fighter jets from the United States to boost Taipei's defences against China.
'I support buying F-16 C/Ds because the F-16 A/Bs we bought are out of date,' Ma told reporters after casting his vote at a Taipei voting station near his home.
Ma said he would not seek to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao right after he has won the election.
'My priority is to complete the government transfer,' he said while stressing that that ties with China were vital.
Ma said he would seek to improve bilateral ties and promote economic integration with China.
Taiwan bought 150 F-16 A/Bs from the US in the 1990s and is seeking to buy 60 F-16 C/Ds.
The US has reportedly approved the F-16 C/D sale but wants to delay completing it until after Taiwan's presidential election.
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