The United States will sell helicopters to Taiwan for military transport and rescue missions, possibly before Christmas, a report said Saturday.
Washington's decision came after an ageing chopper crashed in a rescue mission when Taiwan was hit by Typhoon Morakot in August, the Taipei-based China Times quoted a source in Washington as saying.
Taiwan officials have told the US that the accident, which killed three rescuers, could have been avoided if the island was equipped with newer and bigger choppers, the report said.
Taiwan is hoping to acquire 60 UH-60 helicopters to replace its ageing UH-1H fleet for military transport and rescue missions.
The deal is seen as less sensitive since China already acquired the transport choppers 20 years ago, the source said, adding it could go through before Christmas.
Beijing opposes any arms sales to Taiwan, which it regards as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, even though the two sides have been split since the end of a civil war in 1949.
Washington remains a leading arms supplier to the self-ruled island despite switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.
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