Levin Targeted by Backers of Taiwan F-16 Sale on Michigan Jobs
December 08, 2011, 7:48 AM ESTBy Viola Gienger
Dec. 2 (Bloomberg) -- An industry group lobbying to force U.S. sales of new Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan says opposition from Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin will cost jobs.
The U.S.-Taiwan Business Council distributed an appeal yesterday for supporters to lobby Levin’s staff, said Rupert Hammond-Chambers, the group’s executive director.
The appeal says Levin, a Michigan Democrat, blocked an amendment co-sponsored by Senators John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, that would mandate the U.S. sell at least 66 F-16 C/D fighter jets to Taiwan. Levin spokeswoman Tara Andringa said Levin isn’t blocking the measure and that objections from other senators would defeat the required unanimous consent.
The amendment “is supported by a large bipartisan caucus of senators, as well as by the International Association of Machinist & Aerospace Workers, a subsidiary of the AFL-CIO,” according to the business council’s appeal.
“An F-16 sale to Taiwan represents a boost to the U.S. economy, with approximately $8.7 billion in economic output, supporting nearly 88,000 job-years of employment for our manufacturing sector,” the council said.
The legislative skirmish represents the latest twist in the fight over how to fortify Taiwan’s defenses against China, which considers the island nation a renegade that should be reunited with the mainland by force if necessary. President Barack Obama has made improved relations with China one of his foreign policy priorities, and officials in Beijing have suspended military ties after past U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
Upgrades Offered
The U.S. announced in September that it would sell $5.3 billion in upgrades to Taiwan’s earlier generation of F-16 fighter jets instead of agreeing to the country’s request to buy a newer version. Taiwan has said it needs both for an adequate level of defense as China continues its military buildup across the Taiwan Strait.
The Pentagon announced that annual defense talks with China would proceed on Dec. 7 in Beijing, indicating the U.S. has dodged a rift in relations over the September sale.
“Senator Levin’s own state of Michigan stands to receive $86 million in economic benefits from such a sale, and it would support approximately 880 job-years of employment in the state,” according to the business council’s appeal.
The council also cited R. Thomas Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, as saying the F-16 assembly line “is completely dependent upon foreign sales.” Lockheed has said a Taiwanese purchase of new F-16s would help keep the production line in Fort Worth, Texas, open beyond 2013.
“This sale would maintain production until 2018,” Buffenbarger said, according to the appeal. “It is important to note that the assembly line and supplier base support over 87,000 good paying U.S. jobs.”
--Editors: Stephanie Stoughton, Terry Atlas.
To contact the reporter on this story: Viola Gienger in Washington at vgienger@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva at Msilva34@bloomberg.net.
