US Senate beats back Taiwan arms measure

[ProSense]

Source: AFP

The US Senate on Thursday defeated an effort to force President Barack Obama to sell Taiwan some 66 F-16 fighter jets instead of upgrading the island's existing fleet of combat aircraft.

Senators voted 48-48 on a proposal by Republican Senator John Cornyn, who sharply criticized Obama's decision to stop short of selling new planes in favor of providing equipment, parts, training and logistical support.

Under Senate rules for the bill, 60 votes were required for approval.

Cornyn, whose home state of Texas would have gained from a deal to sell new F-16s, had hoped to attach the measure to a broad trade bill seen as paving the way for approving stalled deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/us-senate-beats-back-taiwan-arms-measure-220630017.html