NOTICE TO CONGRESS:The Obama administration’s authorization of the first major arms sale in four years came a year after Congress gave legislative approval

Taipei Times
Date:  Dec 18, 2015
By: William Lowther  /  Staff reporter in WASHINGTON

Two Republic of China Navy ships made in the US are docked at the naval base in Keelung Harbor yesterday.  Photo: RITCHIE B. TONGO / EPA

In a long-awaited announcement — widely criticized as too little too late — the US government on Wednesday said that it would sell US$1.83 billion in weaponry and equipment to Taiwan.

As expected, the deal did not include the systems that Taipei wanted most — F16C/D fighters and technical help with its indigenous diesel electric submarine program.

While most Washington analysts and members of the US Congress were quick to welcome the proposed sale there were also calls for more sales on a regular basis.

China’s strong objections to the sale were thought unlikely to cause a major disruption to Washington-Beijing relations.

The announcement of the sale — the first in four years — came in the form of a notification to Congress that the US Department of State had approved the sale.     [FULL  STORY]