The head of a prominent U.S. business group accused President Barack Obama of compromising Taiwan"s security to promote U.S. ties with China, according to Reuters. Self-ruled Taiwan, which China deems a wayward province, is watching "with increased exasperation," said Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council. The council"s board chairman is Paul Wolfowitz, a former World Bank president and former U.S. deputy secretary of defense. The group long has advocated arms sales to Taipei, including meeting its wish to buy 66 advanced Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fighter jets to update its F-16 fleet. The council represents scores of companies doing business with Taiwan, including Lockheed Martin , the Pentagon"s No. 1 supplier by sales; Boeing Co ; and Raytheon Co . China strongly opposes all U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Hammond-Chambers said the U.S. departments of state and defense, as well as the U.S. Trade Representative, appeared interested in fostering closer U.S. ties to Taipei despite resulting complications in the U.S.-China relationship.
