When US start placating China by selling out on its allies, it is becomes uncertain who the world's strongest power is. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act requires the U.S. to arm Taiwan for its self-defense. Taiwan requested new Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16 C/D fighters, and instead got offer for upgrades for existing jets as an US attempt to avoid a Chinese backlash.
President says that the US commitment to the security of allies is "
unshakable." Yet, when US Defense Department reported that China's military had deployed 1,200 short-range ballistic missiles opposite Taiwan, and Taiwan asked for support that they were willing to pay for, the President relented and offered "upgrades" to its aging fleet of F-16 A/B fighters.
President says that he wants to increase the number of jobs. The Lockheed Martin said that a Taiwan sale would help keep the production line open past 2013 and support more than 20,000 jobs. Yet, by declining this sale, those 20,000 jobs are now in question and Lockheed stocks fell 3.7 percent in New York Stock Exchange. It really seems that the President Obama ignored Taiwan's request and caved into the demands of China at the cost of American jobs.
While Prof Yin Gang, Chinese expert on the Middle East says that "
Israel and the Middle East need a country like China. Israel needs China's power." Obama's seeming indifference to Israel's story left Israel's friends in a state of desperate uncertainty about what the president might do in the future. Obama's support of Israel in the UN is welcome. Yet, there is no doubt that Israelis are wondering if his support came from real conviction or from the pleadings of Democratic Party fundraisers? Taiwan's fate might bring the answer to this question, only by then it could be too late...