7/30/2019

ARMS-WEAPONS/CHINA/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Lawmakers in Congress from both political parties have accused the Trump administration of delaying an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island off the coast of China that is supported by the United States. Chinese officials have said they object strongly to the sale of 66 jets requested by Taiwan, which would be by far the largest such purchase by its government in many years. Lawmakers are now questioning whether the Trump administration is delaying approval of the sale, either to avoid upsetting Beijing while delicate trade negotiations are underway or to use it as a bargaining chip. Any such move by the administration would ignite intense bipartisan opposition in Congress…Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Robert Lighthizer, the United States trade representative, arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday to meet with Chinese negotiators. President Trump and President Xi Jinping of China agreed to restart talks during a meeting on June 29 in Osaka, Japan.”

Edward Wong and Eric Schmitt, “Lawmakers Accuse Trump and Aides of Delaying F-16 Sales to Taiwan,” The New York Times online, July 30, 2019