US Flood Aid to Taiwan

choi

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(1) 台湾婉拒中国重型直升机援助救灾. VOA Chinese, Aug. 18, 2009.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2009-08-18-voa26.cfm
("星期一令台湾方面有些惊讶的是，降落的美军直升机不是台湾盼望的可以吊挂16吨物品的CH-53E(Super Stallion)'超级种马'运兵直升机，而是MH-53E(Sea Dragon)'海龙'扫雷直升机。")
Note:
(a) 許紹軒、黃維助、王俊忠、洪瑞琴. 美軍運輸機來了 滿載物資. Liberty Times,. Aug. 17, 2009.
http://iservice.libertytimes.com.tw/IService2/search.php
("美軍軍機來台引發關注，事實上，美軍專機來台頻率不算低，但都很低調不願曝光，這次因莫拉克颱風重創台灣，才讓美軍機有正大光明來台的機會，當屬於美海軍陸戰隊現役機種的直升機也飛到台灣時，美現役軍人更將公開踏上台灣土地。")

My comment: For more than a decade, US military airplanes have taken US Congress members to Taiwan.

(b)
(i) CH-53E Super Stallion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CH-53E_Super_Stallion
("The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military")

(ii) CH-53E Super Stallion - Heavy-Lift Helicopter, USA
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/ch-53e/
("The MH-53E Sea Dragon variant is primarily dedicated to Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) operations * * * The MH-53E is heavier than the CH-53E with enlarged fuel sponsons for greater fuel capacity.")

My comment: CH stands for "Chinook Helicopter," I do not know what MH stands for (Multi-mission heliopter?).

(c) CH-47 Chinook
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CH-47_Chinook
("The CH-47SD is a modified variant of the CH-47D, with extended range fuel tanks and higher payload capacities. It is in use by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, Greek Army and the Republic of China.")

(d) Mil Mi-26
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil_Mi-26
(The Soviet/Russian-made, not by China, "is the biggest and most powerful helicopter ever to have gone into production")


(2) 大陆援台行动未能消除两岸隔阂. VOA Chinese, Aug. 18, 2009.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2009-08-18-voa25.cfm

Quote:

"*两岸既有隔阂未能清除* 但是双方间仍有隔阂与戒备。《环球时报》星期二报导，美国多架军用直升机17日飞抵台湾投入救灾，但是大陆的直升机却遭到了婉拒。报导援引台湾媒体说，大陆直升机来台，可能带来安全问题，比如直升机在飞行途中可以同步搜集卫星不易照到的地形地物。

"为了打消台湾的疑虑，大陆国台办主任王毅星期二表示，大陆方面准备援助台湾的米26直升机是民用设施，不具备军方背景。

My comment: I guess this was why China declined international offers of help (except that of Japan) in earthquake relief at Sichuan/Szechuan a year ago.

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