Expedite Taiwan arms sales, US House committee urges Trump administration
The US Foreign Affairs Committee’s recommendation comes two days after Panama switched its formal ties to Beijing from Taiwan
The US Congress’ lower chamber has urged the Trump administration to speed up new arms sales to Taiwan, two days after Panama cut ties with Taiwan and switched its official recognition to Beijing.
“I remain concerned about successive administrations’ delays in arms sales notification for Taiwan, which have needlessly dragged out the arms sales process,” said Ed Royce, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, during a US-Taiwan hearing Thursday in Washington.
Royce said he hopes to see regular notifications in the future, and looks forward to the announcement of new sales this year.
US President Donald Trump is reportedly crafting a big new arms package this year for Taiwan that could include advanced rocket systems and anti-ship missiles.
The package is expected to be larger than the US$1.8 billion arms sales authorised by former US President Obama at the end of his administration in December 2015 in the first US arms deal in four years.