Lawmaker: Taiwan Plans To Buy 2 Frigates From US

Aug. 30, 2013 – Defense News (AFP)

TAIPEI — Taiwan plans to purchase two warships from the United States as part of its efforts to modernize its forces against a perceived military threat from China, a lawmaker said Friday.

The defense ministry has listed Tw $5.6 billion (US $187 million) in its 2014 and 2015 budgets to buy two Perry-class frigates from the US Navy, said lawmaker Lin Yu-fang, citing defense budgets submitted to the parliament.

The ministry aimed to buy two rather than four Perry-class frigates, as previously reported by the media, to replace some of its Knox-class frigates that were retired, Lin said.

Ties between Taiwan and former rival China have improved markedly since Ma Ying-jeou became the island’s president in 2008 on a China-friendly platform. He was elected for a second term last year.

However, China still claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan and has repeatedly threatened to invade should the island declare formal independence, prompting Taipei to seek more advanced weapons, largely from the US.

In 2001, then-President George W. Bush approved the sale of eight conventional submarines as part of Washington’s most comprehensive arms package for the island since 1992.

President Barack Obama’s administration has approved more than $12 billion in sales and equipment upgrades but has held off on Taiwan’s requests to buy new F-16 fighter jets, a step against which China has repeatedly warned.

Taiwanese defense officials were not immediately available to comment on the planned purchase.