Taiwan parliament rejects most of US arms package

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TAIPEI, June 16 (AFP): Taiwan's parliament has rejected most of a controversial arms package first offered by US President George W. Bush in 2001 as a way to bolster the island's defences against China.
Late Friday, lawmakers approved a total of 9.8 billion Taiwan dollars (300 million US) in spending, including 6.1 billion Taiwan dollars for the purchase of P-3C anti-submarine aircraft.
An additional 3.5 billion Taiwan dollars was authorised for the upgrade of existing Patriot anti-missile systems, but funding was cut for the purchase of new Patriot systems.
Lawmakers approved 200 million Taiwan dollars in spending on the eventual acquisition of conventional submarines.
The 10-billion-US-dollar bill, scaled down from the original 16 billion, had called for the purchase of six PAC-3 Patriot anti-missile systems, eight conventional submarines and 12 P-3C aircraft.
Taiwan's defence ministry vowed to push for full approval of the arms package during the next parliamentary session.
"We hope the parliament will reconsider the frozen or cut items on the arms package in order to help enhance Taiwan's defence capabilities," ministry spokesman Yu Sy-tue told AFP.
Some opposition lawmakers have said Taiwan cannot afford the arms package while others say the submarines would be delivered too slowly to enable the island to keep pace with China's military build-up.