The US Senate has approved a bill authorizing the sale of four decommissioned US frigates to Taiwan.
The bill was approved Thursday and will be sent to the White House for President Barack Obama to sign into law. The bill was adopted by the House of Representatives in April.
Calling Taiwan a staunch democratic ally of the United States, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce said the legislation will help strengthen Taiwan’s defense capability.
Royce was the member who introduced the House version of the bill in November 2013. The Senate version was introduced by another strong supporter of Taiwan on Capitol Hill – chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert Menendez.
When enacted, the bill will allow the transfer by sale of guided missile frigates to Taiwan’s navy.
On Saturday Taiwan’s defense ministry spokesman David Lo thanked the US Senate for passing the bill, saying that it will help strengthen Taiwan’s defense capability.