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Obama expected to move on Taiwan arms sales before year-end

The Obama administration is expected as quickly as this week to authorize the sale of two guided missile frigates to Taiwan, D.J. congressional sources stated on Monday, regardless of China’s opposition to the deal.

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The Chinese statement said Mr Zheng had told Ms Lee at the Wednesday meeting that Taiwan “is an inalienable part of China’s territory” and that it “strongly opposes the USA arms sale”.


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Taiwan has stated it expects to pay about $ 176 million for the 2 vessels and that it will assessment its wants before making a choice on two extra. It constitutes the first major arms sale to Taiwan in more than four years.


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If approved by Congress, the total package could be worth $1.83 billion and could greatly enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities at a time when the Pentagon is focused on countering Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry cheered the announcement as a sign of healthy ties between Taipei and Washington and rejected claims it would harm relations with Beijing.

Foreign Minister Hong Lei said that China, “firmly opposes sales of weapons, military hardware or technology to Taiwan by any country in any form or under any pretext”, according to the Agence France Presse news agency.

In addition, the arms sales underscores the common interest that the United States and Taiwan share in the region and Taiwan’s strategic position as an important economic and security partner of the United States in the Asia Pacific, it added.

Washington angered Beijing in October when a United States warship sailed close to artificial islets that China is building out into military bases in the South China Sea.

Taiwan will elect a new president in January, with the candidate of the pro-independence opposition Democratic Progressive Party, Tsai Ing-wen, tipped to win. There were calls from both parties for more frequent arms sales to Taiwan.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province which will one day be reunited with the mainland, though relations have warmed in recent weeks.

Taiwan’s defence ministry spokesman David Lo said Beijing had nothing to worry about.

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Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. must establish a more regularized process for considering Taiwan requests, “in order to avoid extended periods in which a fear of upsetting the U.S.-China relationship may harm Taiwan’s defense capabilities”.

China strongly opposes US arms sale to Taiwan