WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Chinese threats to sanction US companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan should not stop the United States from fulfilling its recent arms sale to Taipei, US Senator Jeff Flake told Sputnik.
"They have threatened before on that," Flake said on Thursday of the Chinese sanctions threat. He added that the United States "ought to continue to do it [arms sales to Taiwan]."
On Wednesday, the Obama administration sought congressional approval for a $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which includes two Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, amphibious assault vehicles, surface to air missiles, as well as shipborne rapid-fire guns intended to counter missiles.
Following the announcement of the proposed sale, Beijing threatened economic sanctions against US companies involved in the sale.
China threatened similar actions in 2011, when the United States made a $5.8 billion military sale to Taiwan.
