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WASHINGTON-The U.S. government on Friday announced plans to sell around $6.5 billion in arms to Taiwan, including 30 Boeing Co Apache attack helicopters and 330 Patriot missiles, in a move that could anger China.The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency told lawmakers that the sale-which also includes 32 Harpoon submarine-launched missiles-would support Taiwan's continuing efforts to modernize its military."The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region," said the agency, which oversees major arms sales.U.S. lawmakers have 30 days to block the six separate arms deals, although such action is rare since any major arms agreements are carefully vetted before they are made public.The Pentagon said the arms sales were consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, which obliges Washington to help Taipei defend itself. The deals were announced after what analysts had described as a freeze designed to ease tension between Beijing and Taipei, and were quickly lauded in Taiwan.Taiwan's economic and cultural representative in the United States said the decision marked the end of eight years of "turmoil and confusion," and heralded "the beginning of the new era of mutual trust between our two countries."In an editorial posted online late Friday, the Taipei Times said any move by Washington to hand off the decision to a new administration would have left either a Republican or Democratic president with an unnecessary burden."Starting a term as U.S. president by releasing arms to Taiwan would be far more damaging to U.S.-China ties than releasing them in the dying days of the current presidential term," the editorial said.To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah...
