Arms to Taiwan

The State Department has approved a $1.72 billion arms sale to Taiwan that includes two Perry-class frigates, anti-tank missiles, amphibious assault vehicles and other weapon systems, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The deal comes as the United States and Taiwan seek to deter China's activities in the South China Sea.

Previous U.S. sales to Taiwan have totaled more than $12 billion since the beginning of the Obama administration.

The deal will go through in 30 days, unless Congress objects.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) released a statement in support of the sale.

"Going forward, the United States must establish a more regularized process for considering requests for arms sales to Taiwan in order to avoid extended periods in which a fear of upsetting the U.S.-China relationship may harm Taiwan's defense capabilities," he said. "For its part, Taiwan will also need to work to meet its commitment to spend at least 3 percent of its annual gross domestic product on defense."

The U.S.-Taiwan Business Council issued a statement of its own:

"Taiwan is poised to elect a new President on January 16, 2016. The timing of this announcement is therefore useful as a modest signal to China that the U.S. has equities in the peaceful transition of power on the island, and that it supports Taiwan's democratic system. However, the Taiwan Relations Act states that 'the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.' In light of this recent sale, the US-Taiwan Business Council poses a number of questions for the Obama Administration:

1. Why did it take over four years to prepare this arms package? The last U.S. arms sale to Taiwan took place on September 21, 2011.

2. Why isn’t Taiwan being offered any new capabilities to counter changes to the Chinese threat over this period?

3. What impact are delays in consideration and execution of Taiwan arms requests having on the island’s ability to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability?"