Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, accused President Barack Obama of compromising Taiwan's security to promote U.S. ties with China.The council represents scores of companies doing business with Taiwan, including Lockheed Martin , the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier by sales; Boeing Co (BA.N); and Raytheon Co (RTN.N).
Obama, much like his predecessor, George W. Bush, has slowed the submission of proposed Taiwan arms sales to Congress, both for what analysts say is fear of disrupting China-Taiwan rapprochement and to avoid angering Beijing.
"If the Obama administration balks at providing replacement F-16 fighters to Taiwan, China will have won a major victory in the Taiwan Strait without firing a shot," the council president said. The updating of Taiwan's F-16 fleet was a "material response" to Beijing's own fighter modernization, he added.
Hammond-Chambers said several other arms deals in the works -- including UH-60 Black Hawk tactical transport helicopters built by United Technologies Corp's (UTX.N) Sikorsky Aircraft unit and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile batteries and missiles built by Lockheed and Raytheon -- have been ready for notification to Congress for more than a year. (Source: Jim Wolf, Reuters, Jan 1, 2010).