(Image Source: Flickr/Ruben Alexander)

BY DIHUI YANG

ANCHOR ANTHONY MARTINEZ

The Obama administration has agreed to a $5.8 billion arms deal to upgrade Taiwan’ aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets on Wednesday. This, after Taiwan requested to purchase new jets instead.  
 

One expert tells Fox News some are seeing the U.S.’s decision as a way to avoid provoking China.
 

“Well, clearly everyone and especially leaders around the region are seeing an attempt to appease China. They’re really concerned, because the administration appears more willing to try to be concerned about the feelings of the Chinese people than about the defense of Taiwan, which is a democracy.”

In a statement, China’s foreign minster has urged U.S. to revoke the sales.

Despite that, the Wall Street Journal says some analysts are suggesting China’s anger is just an act.
 

“…[The U.S. and China] appeared to have agreed in advance on a compromise that would allow them to maintain defense exchanges and avoid another crisis in relations in the sensitive run-up to a Communist Party leadership change in China next year.”
 

The New York Times points out, Beijing may see the advantage to the weapons deal--for its own interests.
 

“Beijing also recognizes that the deal stands to benefit Taiwan’s president, Ma Ying-jeou, whose tenure has been marked by steadily warming relations with the Chinese mainland … [T]he governing Communist Party is eager to see Mr. Ma re-elected in the hopes that his policies might one day bring about reunification.”


But Taipei Times says the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council believes the arms upgrade won’t quite aid its direct beneficiary: Taiwan’s security.
 

“Renovating existing air fleets is not enough to defend Taiwan from the military threat posed by China and it would only contribute to destabilization of the cross-strait military balance and encourage Chinese adventurism…Because it is likely to take 10 years to upgrade the F-16A/Bs, a shortfall in maintaining the nation’s air fleet has been created.”