The Pentagon notified Congress on Friday of a possible $6.5 billion arms sale to Taiwan that would include advanced interceptor missiles, Apache helicopters, and submarine-launched missiles. The Defense Department's foreign-sales agency said the proposed sales were aimed at improving Taiwan's defenses and would not change the basic military balance in the region. Such a sale would end a yearlong pause in U.S. weapons sales to Taipei, which has enjoyed improved relations with China since Ma Ying-jeou was elected earlier this year on a pledge to ease tensions with the mainland. Congress has 30 days to raise objections to the proposed sales, which are likely to be criticized by China.
