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В. Кашин
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16.08.2004 12:06:59
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Армия; ВВС;
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AEGIS тайваньцы могут получить уже в 2011
Добрый день!
По данным China Times имеется предварительное соглашение о продаже Тайваню 4 кораблей класса Орли Бёрк. Первый корабль может поступить уже в 2011 году. Конечно, пока это официально не подтверждено, но все к тому шло...
Report: U.S. to Approve Sale of Aegis Ships to Taiwan
Reuters, Aug. 16, 2004
The United States will announce the sale of four Aegis missile-defense warships to Taiwan next year with delivery likely to begin in 2011, a newspaper said on Monday.
Taiwan has long sought the destroyers, which would be an important defense against about 500 ballistic missiles pointed at the island by arch-foe China, but Washington has so far only offered less advanced Kidd-class destroyers to Taipei.
The mass-circulation China Times quoted unidentified sources as saying the United States has agreed to sell four Aegis-equipped destroyers to Taiwan in a $3.5 billion deal.
Taiwan's defense ministry said it had not received any word from Washington about the vessels.
"With regards to the Aegis matter, the Ministry of National Defense has not received any notification from the United States up to now," said spokesman Huang Suey-sheng.
"The Aegis is, of course, a weapon that is sought by our navy. If the United States agrees to sell, we plan to buy."
China views Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunified, by force if necessary. Beijing opposes any arms sales to Taiwan but is particularly against the Aegis vessels due to their potential use in a regional anti-ballistic missile shield.
Taiwan is also considering an $18 billion purchase of Patriot anti-missile systems, submarines and anti-submarine aircraft, which would be the biggest arms deal between Washington and the island. Taiwan is hoping to cut the cost by $3 billion.
The talk of huge arms deals come as tensions run high across the Taiwan Strait with China preparing for a military showdown, convinced Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian will push for formal statehood during his second term, which began in May.
On Sunday, Taiwan Premier Yu Shyi-kun said China had been practicing an attack on Taiwan's capital, Taipei, aimed at killing or capturing the island's leaders in a "decapitation" action based on the U.S. actoin in Iraq against Saddam Hussein.
In 2001, President Bush approved the sale of four Kidd-class ships to Taiwan as part of the biggest arms package for the island in a decade since his father sold the island 150 F-16 fighter aircraft.
The Kidds, though powerful air-defense ships, were offered instead of the Aegis-equiped Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which were the most advanced U.S. system of its kind.
"The Kidd class we have already bought and related officers are being trained, readying to bring the vessels back to Taiwan," said Huang.
The China Times quoted unidentified Taiwan military officials as saying no orders had been received for the Aegis weapons systems beyond 2007, so the United States government has come under pressure from U.S. arms manufacturers to find buyers.
If parliament can approve the budget by 2007, Taiwan can take delivery of the first ship in 2011, the newspaper said.
It said the deal would not be affected by the outcome of November's U.S. presidential election.
С уважением, Василий Кашин