According to the New York Times, the Obama administration has decided against allowing Taiwan to purchase new F-16C/Ds, but it will allow them to purchase the material to upgrade their existing fleet of F-16A/Bs.  Some have called this “buckling to pressure from China,” which generally criticizes military support for what it considers a breakaway state.

“If the reports are true,” Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, said in a written statement on Friday, “today’s capitulation to Communist China by the Obama administration marks a sad day in American foreign policy, and it represents a slap in the face to a strong ally and longtime friend.”

Cornyn had introduced a bill requiring the government to sell the F-16s,

under a 1979 law that requires Washington to provide the island with arms sufficient to defend itself.

The aircraft would be built in his home state of Texas.

China apparently still criticized the decision to upgrade the aircraft.