$6.5B Navy arms deal to Taiwan near complete

[unhappycamper]

$6.5B Navy arms deal to Taiwan near complete
Kyodo News Service
Posted : Thursday Feb 19, 2009 21:35:47 EST

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin Corp. reached agreement this week on a $1.3 billion deal to refurbish a dozen antisubmarine aircraft for sale to Taiwan, the “last step” forward in a major arms deal stalled since 2007, according to a senior Taiwanese legislative aide familiar with the matter.

“The deal is now going very smoothly,” the aide told Kyodo News on condition of anonymity.

“This is the last step,” he said, referring to plans to ink a contract later this month on refurbishing 12 P3-C Orion aircraft that have already been cleared by the U.S. Congress for sale to Taiwan.

Long-awaited progress on the deal came as the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama said it would seek to boost defense ties with Taiwan, a sticking point in U.S. relations with China, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory.

The push for the planes also coincides with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s first overseas visit, including to China, as top U.S. diplomat.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_Taiwan_planes_021909/%2e



uhc comment: When the Secretary of State pushes weapons sales for Lockheed Martin (somebody must pay for them - guess who?), do you doubt for a moment that the MIC is in control?