China News  
Taiwan Plans To Buy US-Made Attack Choppers

An advanced Apache attack helicopters in action.
by Staff Writers
Taipei (AFP) April 11, 2007
Taiwan plans to purchase 30 advanced Apache attack helicopters from the United States in the face of a mounting military threat from rival China, a defence official said Wednesday. The deal would require the approval of the United States, the island's leading arms supplier despite a lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Beijing strongly objects to any arms sales from Washington to Taiwan, which it regards as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

"The attack helicopter deal has been under evaluation," defence ministry spokesman Major-general Wu Chi-fang told AFP, declining to provide details on the sensitive issue.

The Taipei-based China Times reported Wednesday that defence minister Lee Jye had approved two arms packages for an estimated 230 billion Taiwan dollars (6.95 billion US).

This includes 92.4 billion dollars for 30 Boeing attack helicopters, along with the 140 billion-dollar acquisition of 90 transport helicopters to replace the army's ageing UH-1H fleet, one of which crashed into a radio tower last week, killing all eight army officers on board.

The defence ministry immediately ordered the grounding of all remaining choppers of the same model for safety checks.

However, Wu said the reported proposal for transport helicopters was still on the drawing board.

Major General Huang Yi-li from the defence ministry told reporters Tuesday that the UH-1H fleet would be gradually retired in 10 years beginning 2008.

Taiwan has been seeking more advanced weaponry amid Beijing's repeated threats to invade.

In a wide-ranging interview with CNN in January, Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian accused China of provoking the island by targeting it with nearly 1,000 missiles.

Tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated since the independence-leaning leader was elected president in 2000. He was narrowly re-elected in 2004.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Email This Article

Related Links
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com

US Experts Seek Positive China Trade Strategy
Washington (AFP) April 10, 2007
As Washington steps up trade sanctions against China, a group of US experts called Tuesday for greater integration of the Asian giant into the global economy, including membership in the G8 club of wealthy nations.







  • Chinese PM Seeks New Trust With Japan
  • US Backs NATO Enlargement
  • Japan To Consider Fighting For Allies Under Attack
  • China To Be Absent From G7 Meeting

  • Russia Moving Too Slow For WTO
  • The Drooping Dollar
  • Is Doha The Trade Round Really Dead
  • Trade - Doha's Last Chance

  • Aid Reaches All Of Tsunami-Devasted Areas In Solomons
  • Study Of Coastal Disasters Yields Surprising Findings And Arresting Images
  • Tsunami Aid Yet To Reach Remote Solomons Villages
  • Tradition Blamed For Slow Solomons Relief

  • China To Pursue Space Instead Of Socialism
  • China Outlines Space Program Till 2010
  • China To Launch New Direct Broadcast Satellite To Replace SinoSat-2
  • Russian Court Upholds Custody For Space Firm Chief Reshetin

  • Energy Center Symposium To Pave The Road To A Hydrogen Economy
  • China To Rely More On Cleaner Energy Like Natural Gas By 2010
  • ConocoPhillips Establishes Biofuels Research Program At Iowa State
  • Tech Company Involved In Breakthrough Research

  • UN Says Bird Flu Still A Threat
  • Has Russia Declared War On Migratory Birds
  • Antibiotic Resistance In Plague
  • Researchers Find Best Way To Detect Airborne Pathogens

  • Mitsubishi Corp Buys Uranium Rights In Canada
  • Japanese Nuclear Industry Vows Safety
  • Egypt And Russia Drafting Nuclear Cooperation Agreements
  • Russia May Invite Neighbors To Join NPP Project In Far East

  • Light At End Of Tunnel For British Coal-Mining Industry
  • Study to prove natural, artificial cleanup
  • One dead, 38 trapped in China mine accidents: reports
  • China To Close 5000 Coal Mines To Improve Safety

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement