(From Reuters)
For the first time in four years, the United States may be shipping two guided missile frigates to Taiwan despite China’s firm opposition to such arms sales.
The Obama administration is expected as early as this week to authorize the sale of the vessels, US congressional sources said Monday.
The move comes a year after Congress passed the Naval Transfer Act authorizing the sale of up to four Perry-class frigates to Taiwan in December 2014.
Taiwan expects to pay about $176 million for the two vessels and it would review its needs before making a decision on two more.
President Barack Obama signed the transfer act into law, but his administration still has to tell Congress its plans to move ahead with the sale, part of Washington’s commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to ensure Taipei can maintain a credible defense.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy said on Friday that China “firmly opposes any arms sales from the United States to Taiwan.” Read More