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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has placed a hold on the nomination of Mark Lippert to become the Pentagon’s top official for Asia.
Cornyn says he is not satisfied with the Obama administration’s response to his requests for more information on the near-term plans to address Taiwan’s fighter aircraft needs. Cornyn placed his hold shortly after the Senate Armed Services Committee voted Feb. 17 to approve Lippert’s nomination.
President Barack Obama nominated Lippert to be assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security in October. Lippert previously served as chief of staff for the National Security Council and before that was the top foreign policy adviser in Obama’s Senate office and worked on his presidential campaign.
In November, Cornyn threatened to place a hold on the Lippert nomination, citing the Obama administration’s Taiwan policy.
Cornyn, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has long advocated selling Taiwan new F-16 fighter aircraft.
Lockheed Martin builds the F- 16 fighter jet in Fort Worth, Texas.
In September, the Obama administration approved a $5.85 billion upgrade of Taiwan’s older F-16A/B fighters, but stopped short of selling them newer F-16C/D models. The decision by the White House upset several politicians on Capitol Hill, who have been pushing Obama to release an $8 billion deal for 66 F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighter aircraft.
During Lippert’s November nomination hearing, Cornyn questioned him on the Taiwan issue.
“If confirmed, I can assure you I will be an open-minded official that hears all sides of this debate,” Lippert told Cornyn.
A day after Lippert’s nomination hearing, Cornyn sent a letter to Obama.
“I hope to be able to support the confirmation of this nominee,” he wrote.
“However, I ask that you decide on a near-term course of action to address Taiwan’s looming fighter shortfall, and provide me with the specific action you intend to take.”
The Obama administration responded to Cornyn’s request in a Feb. 15 letter sent by acting Undersecretary of Defense James Miller. Miller said he shares Cornyn’s concerns, but said the administration had demonstrated its commitment to Taiwan by notifying over $12 billion in arms sales to Congress over the past two years.
Miller’s letter notes that Taiwan’s approach to defense cannot match China’s one-for-one. Its spending cannot keep up with China’s and the type of military it develops cannot be exactly the same.
“We believe the F-16 A/B upgrade effectively meets Taiwan’s current needs,” Miller says. However, the White House has not ruled out future arms sales packages and will continue to consider Taiwan’s requests, he said.
Cornyn’s press secretary, Drew Brandewie, described Miller’s letter as a “non-responsive response.”
“The administration finally responded yesterday, but failed to adequately address Sen. Cornyn’s underlying concerns,” Brandewie said. “Sen. Cornyn believes the White House must articulate a clear near-term course of action to address Taiwan’s looming fighter shortfall, something they have not yet done.”
This isn’t the first time Cornyn has used a hold on a nomination to force the Obama administration’s hand on Taiwan.
In July, The Cable reported that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised Cornyn a decision on the F-16 sale if he would lift his hold on the nomination of William Burns to become her deputy secretary of state.
On Feb. 17, the Senate committee favorably reported out 2,432 pending military nominations. In addition to Lippert, the panel also approved Navy Adm. Samuel Locklear’s nomination become commander of U.S. Pacific Command.
