Legislation aimed at forcing the White House to quickly transfer two US Navy frigates to Taiwan was introduced into the US Congress on Wednesday.
The bill would order US President Barack Obama to provide a detailed timeline for the transfer of the warships within 30 days of it becoming law.
Sponsored by US Representative Brad Sherman and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, the bill has substantial support in the House of Representatives.
It is part of a growing campaign by members of the US Congress to push Obama into approving new arms sales for Taiwan following more than four years of inaction.
Well-placed Washington sources say that Obama will inform Congress of a new arms sales package — including the frigates — later this month.
“We should ensure that the laws passed by Congress to provide Taiwan the military equipment it needs to help secure our shared security objectives are faithfully executed,” Sherman said. “The United States should not delay in securing the safety of our democratic allies around the world.”
Royce said that it was time for the Obama administration to act.
“Ensuring the transfer of these frigates to Taiwan is critical to bolstering its defense and ensuring peace in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.
“That’s why I led the House in passing naval vessel transfer legislation last year,” Royce added.
He said that Taiwan had been waiting for more than a year for the frigates.
“This important bill will press the administration to make good on our commitment to strengthen the US-Taiwan partnership,” Royce said.
Among others actively supporting the bill are US Representative Eliot Engel, a ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and US Representative Matt Salmon, chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Last month, US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain and US Senator Ben Cardin wrote directly to Obama about their concern that Taiwan was not being adequately armed, while China was rapidly expanding its military.
“We are troubled that it has now been over four years — the longest period since the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 — since the administration has notified Congress of a new arms sale package,” the letter read.
In December last year, Obama signed the Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2013, allowing the sale of up to four US Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates to Taiwan.
The ships approved for sale were the USS Taylor, USS Gary, USS Elrod and USS Carr.
Taiwan has agreed to buy two of them — the Gary and the Taylor — and has been anxiously waiting for Obama to actually approve the transfer, which has still not happened.
Many believe that Obama delayed the final go-ahead because he did not want to upset Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), whose cooperation he needed at this week’s climate summit in Paris.
The ships are guided-missile frigates specially designed for anti-aircraft and anti-submarine duty.
“The Chinese side is firmly opposed to arms sales by the US to Taiwan and this position is steadfast, clear and consistent,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Qin Gang (秦剛) has said.
He said the sale of the frigates “brutally” interfered in China’s domestic affairs and undermined China’s sovereignty and security interests.
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