The Pentagon has notified the US Congress that it plans a new arms sale to Taiwan which includes over 400 missiles with the total value of US$421 million.

According to a press release issued by the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Thursday, the arms sale package will include 218 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), 235 Maverick missiles, as well as related support, maintenance, training and logistics service.

The agency said the planned sale will "augment and complement the recipient's F-16 fleet."

The prime contractor in this deal will be Raytheon Missile Systems Corporation, it said.
 
According to US law, the DSCA must notify the Congress about the arms sale and the Congress will decide whether to approve it within 30 days.

The Chinese government firmly opposes US arms sale to Taiwan.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2007)