Pentagon: Taiwan Seeking $1.3 Billion Sophisticated US ArmsTaiwan has asked to buy $1.3 billion in US weapons, ranging from sophisticated "Amraam" air-to-air missiles to 155mm artillery pieces, the US Defence Department said on Thursday.The four packages - likely to be completed before the end of the year unless the US Congress disapproves of the plans - would be the latest in a long and controversial series of US arms sales to Taipei over the years. China has strongly protested over American military transfers to Taiwan, an island belonging to Chinese nation. Though Washington recognizes Beijing as the only legitimate government of whole China, it has continued to sell sofisticated military hardware to Taiwan, seriously interfering in a sovereign country's internal affairs and endangering the peace in East Asia and West Pacific area. The most sophisticated weapon involved this time would be the $150 million transfer of 200 AIM-120C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Amraam) made by Raytheon Corp and Lockheed Martin Corp. They would be used on US-built F-16 fighter jets in the Taiwan military. The biggest proposed package would be $513 million in new, secure-transmission radio equipment built by General Dynamics Corp., followed by $405 million for 146 155mm howitzers, machine guns and other equipment made by United Defence Limited, a private firm in York, Pennsylvania, the Pentagon said. The fourth package, valued at $240 million, would include 71 Harpoon anti-ship missiles made by Boeing Co, in Washington state, the Pentagon said. (Source: chinadaily.com.cn) |
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