Senator blocks Obama aide's appointment as Pentagon Asia chief, demands F-16 sales for Taiwan The USA Times

US soldier seeks dismissal of 10 counts in WikiLeaks case, says they're unconstitutional . Generation gap: Parents and their kids feud all the way to the ballot box in Egypt vote . AL Capsules: Pujols belts 450th home run, leads Angels to 3-0 win over Mariners . Rogge says IOC still working to get Saudi Arabia to send women athletes to London Olympics . Adoring crowds await Thai king as he makes takes 1st trip outside Bangkok in almost 3 years . Adoring crowds await Thai king as he makes takes 1st trip outside Bangkok in almost 3 years . New French President Francois Hollande in surprise Afghanistan visit, discussing early pullout . Janet Jackson shows off her new curves at a charity gala in France . Janet Jackson shows off her new curves at a charity gala in France . Royal Caribbean sending 2 cruise liners to China, says they will be Asia's largest .

Friday, May 25, 2012

Senator blocks Obama aide's appointment as Pentagon Asia chief, demands F-16 sales for Taiwan

WASHINGTON - A Republican senator is blocking the appointment of a top Pentagon official on Asia policy in a dispute with President Barack Obama over sales of fighter jets to Taiwan.

The Obama administration has approved upgrades for Taiwan's existing fleet of F-16s but not the sales of new planes that Sen. John Cornyn and other lawmakers want.

Spokesman Drew Brandewie said Cornyn wants a clear plan to address Taiwan's "shortfall" in fighter jets before he lifts his hold on the nomination of former Obama aide Mark Lippert to be assistant secretary of defence for Asian and Pacific security affairs.

The administration wrote to Cornyn last week saying the F-16 upgrade meets Taiwan's current needs although it cannot match China's much bigger air force "one-for-one."