The US State Department has authorized the sale of two Perry-class frigates to Taiwan, pending approval from Congress. That’s according to a statement issued by the State Department on Thursday.
The sale, worth US$190 million, is part of an arms sales package announced by Washington at the end of last year.
There has been speculation about the timing of the announcement, as Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the US at the end of March to attend the Nuclear Safety Summit.
However, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Bruce Linghu, said on Friday that the arms sale is part of long-term military cooperation between the two sides.
“The [decision] did not come suddenly. It was based on evaluations, our needs, and the items that [Washington] is able to provide. [The deal] is in accordance with US policy, namely the Taiwan Relations Act. The US supports us, as Taiwan’s security is an important policy for the United States," said Linghu.