Herbert Pell: “arms sales are limited to maintaining Taiwan's defense needs. This need was recognized even by the negotiators of the…”

“arms sales are limited to maintaining Taiwan's defense needs. This need was recognized even by the negotiators of the United States-China Joint Communique of August 17, 1982. As John Holdridge, then-Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in August 1982: The Chinese insisted, however, that we agree to the ultimate termination of arms sales [to Taiwan]. We refused because the level of arms sales must be determined by the needs of Taiwan and we could not agree to a termination date, as the Chinese demanded, which might impair our ability to meet those needs. Furthermore, Secretary Holdrige stated: Our guiding principle is now and will continue to be that embodied in the Taiwan Relations Act: the maintenance of a self-defense capability sufficient to meet the military needs of Taiwan, but with the understanding that China's maintenance of a peaceful approach to the Taiwan question will permit gradual reductions in arms sales. There are in effect two primary standards to be considered: First, Taiwan's defensive needs; and second, China's intentions towards Taiwan.”