Bolivia Buying Chinese Fighter Jets

Bolivia to buy Chinese jets, denies arms race

Bolivian President Evo Morales denied Saturday his country was engaged in a regional arms race, insisting the purchase of six Chinese light military aircraft would serve to fight drug trafficking.

"This purchase of aircraft does not threaten anyone, they're not for war," Morales said in anticipation of domestic and international criticism.

"The aircraft purchase is aimed at the fight against drug trafficking and not... any arms race," he added at a ceremony commemorating the 52nd anniversary of the Bolivian Air Force.

Bolivia plans to buy the Chinese K-8 Karakorum jets at a cost of 57.8 million dollars after a similar order of Czech planes was blocked by the United States amid a diplomatic spat with Washington after Morales expelled the US ambassador and US counternarcotics agents last year.

Morales had last year tried to buy six L-159 ALCA two-seater light combat aircraft, made with US components, from the Czech Republic for 58 million dollars, but the leftist leader disclosed in July that Washington had vetoed the sale.

The Rest @ MSN