Disruption of Pentagon’s military exchange program at stake
The Washington Free Beacon
Date: December 14, 2015
By: Bill Gertz
The Pentagon is bracing for a potential cutoff of its ambitious military exchange program
Taiwanese military vehicles armed with U.S.-made TOW anti-tank missiles / AP
with China next week in response to the latest congressional notification of some $1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan.
Defense officials said formal notification of the arms package aimed at bolstering the island’s defenses will be sent to Congress this week. It will include offers to sell two Navy frigates and some 12 AAV-7 amphibious assault tanks. Missiles in the package will include Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin and TOW anti-tank missiles.
The major items in the package are two decommissioned guided-missile frigates, the USS Gary and the USS Taylor. Sale of the Perry-class warships was approved earlier but notification has been delayed for years.
The Obama administration, fearful of upsetting Beijing, rejected offering Taiwan new and more modern F-16 jets in the arms package. The Taiwanese military has sought the new jets for years to replace aging F-16s in its arsenal. [FULL STORY]
