The sale, which requires congressional approval, would be the first to Taiwan under Trump and the first since a $1.83bn sale that former President Barack Obama announced in December 2015, to China's dismay.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters on Thursday that the administration had told Congress of the seven proposed sales.
- Lawmakers, which are generally strongly supportive of such sales, have 30 days to object. The US is legally obligated to sell weapons to Taiwan for its self-defence.
"It's now valued about $1.42 billion," said Nauert before adding that the approvals did not violate the Taiwan Relations Act that governs US contacts with the island.
"It shows, we believe, our support for Taiwan's ability to maintain a sufficient self-defense policy. There's no change, I should point out, to our 'one-China policy'."
The State Department said the package included technical support for early warning radar, high-speed anti-radiation missiles, torpedoes and missile components.
In a strong sign of congressional support, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee welcomed what he called the "long-overdue" arms sale.
"Sales of defensive weapons, based on Taiwan's needs, are a key provision of our commitments as laid out by the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances," said Ed Royce, referring to legislation and informal guidelines that steer US relations with Taiwan.
- The previous package, under Obama, included two Navy frigates in addition to anti-tank missiles and amphibious attack vehicles.
China's ambassador to Washington said the arms sales will undermine bilateral relations and run counter to the spirit of the Florida summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April.
[aljazeera.com]
30/6/17
-
Related:
-
2016:
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
No comments :
Post a Comment
Only News