"China Warns France To Cancel Its Arms Sales To Taiwan" Topic

"China has called on France to cancel a weapons contract with Taiwan, warning that the deal with the self-ruled island could harm diplomatic relations between Beijing and Paris.

"We stand against foreign arms sales to Taiwan or having military and security exchanges with the island, and this stance is consistent and clear," Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said.

"China has expressed grave concerns to France. We once again urge France to abide by the one-China principle, cancel its plan to sell arms to Taiwan, and avoid damaging Sino-French relations."…"
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The French are telling the Chinese to take a hike ….

Focus on Covid-19, France tells China after Taiwan arms deal threat
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Also ….
Focus on COVID-19 battle, France tells China after Taiwan warning
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Amicalement
Armand

Way to go France>

I think the Chinese have already damaged Franco-Sino relations.

France is less prone to Chinese pressure than the US when it comes to selling arms to the "renegade" island nation. It sold Mirage 2000-5's to Taiwan when the US initially balked under pressure in selling F-16's to Taiwan. Even today, the US is not selling Taipei F-35's, preferring to upgrade ROCAF's existing fleet of F-16's.

France sells weapons everywhere

…hmmm…and the CCP is threatening war if the World Health Organization accepts Taiwan as a member…

France is less prone to Chinese pressure

Those weapon sales were nearly 30 years ago. France hasn't sold anything major to Taiwan since due to Chinese pressure.

Even this contract the Chinese are carrying on about now relates to upgrades for frigates acquired in 1993.

Here's an article from 2012 that discusses how little Tawian buys from Europe including France.

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Even today, the US is not selling Taipei F-35's, preferring to upgrade ROCAF's existing fleet of F-16's.

The F-16 upgrade was always going to happen. ROCAF can't afford to replace all its fighters including those Mirage 2000-5's which have turned out to be very expensive to operate.

Including F-16's, F-5E/Fs, F-CK-1s and Mirages (all acquired in 1990s except the F-5s which are 1980s vintage), there's is about 400 fighters in the ROCAF. The F-5s are used as Lead In Fighter Trainers.

The ROCAF planned new aircraft buy is 66 (most likely to replace Mirage). They originally wanted 66 new F-16C/Ds from 2001 onwards which both Bush Jnr and Obama baulked on. Trump finally approved the 66 F-16 deal as well as a deal to upgrade about 142 or 144 remaining F-16s to latest Block 70 standard.

They talked about F-35s but it was never serious talk.

Hmmm, maybe they could sell that amphibious ship the Russians ordered that was cancelled due to their actions in Ukraine, and/or we or the Brits could sell them a carrier or two, with a clause it/they can't be turned into "floating casinos", or transferred to the Chinese communists.

Of course, loaned nukes would be more likely to keep the Red Chinese at bay, if the Taiwanese had some of them, too.

The Russian amphibs built by France were sold to Egypt who then ordered a number of Russian helicopters to operate off them.

Carriers are probably a waste for Taiwan. What they need is excellent anti missile and anti shipping defence. RAND actually questioned the need for more fighters since the Taiwanese airbases would be blanketed with missiles in event of a war.

In any case the Taiwanese military is in bad state with staffing shortfalls up to 40% since the end of conscription, general funding shortfalls and misplaced politically driven investment.

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The Americans might want to die for Taiwan but increasingly the Taiwanese youth don't want to die for Taiwan.

This attitude is widespread in modern democracies and it's even affecting Israel.

Oh, I agree on the Taiwanese carrier(s).

I was just thinking out of the box as to what might poke the Chinese Panda Bear a bit more.

Taiwan can bug china by getting some nice new Anti Shipping Cruise missiles on mobile launchers . Having those same missiles be convertible to carry Heavy warheads would give Beijing apoplexy

Shanghai 700Kms due north Beijing 1800 Kms

Yea, Pershing IIs would have been great as a bargaining/defensive chip.

A pity we destroyed those.