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| Image: Flickr User - Naval Surface Warriors |
Taiwan is still hoping to take delivery of two US Perry-class frigates next year, the country's defense minister Kao Kuang-chi on Wednesday, amid reports that the sale is in limbo and the ships already decommissioned.
Kao said at a legislative hearing that the ministry is hoping to get a letter of offer and acceptance for the frigates by the end of the year and send Navy officers to take delivery of the Perry-class frigates next year. Kao added that the military has already inspected the frigates, and they are in fairly good condition but he acknowledged that there have been delays, which he attributed to difficulties in coordination between the executive and legislative branches in the United States.
President Barack Obama signed a bill into law in December 2014 that authorized the sale of four Perry-class frigates to Taiwan. Taiwan budgeted about NT$5.5 billion (US$175 million) in 2014 to purchase two of the frigates that were still active.
Read the full story at Want China Times