Keating became the only US official to confirm the existence of the freeze during a speech in Washington in July.
She called “disturbing” the fact that “the Chinese leadership had some input into the decisions of the US about Taiwan’s defense needs and our commitments to Taiwan under our laws.”
Citing former US president Ronald Reagan’s 1982 pledge in his so-called “six assurances” that the US would not consult with China beforehand on arms sales to Taiwan, Ros-Lehtinen faulted the administration for talking to Beijing about the issue.
“As Congress has been kept in the dark on this issue, which is of vital concern to our national security interests, the Chinese leadership has been kept fully abreast of our nation’s intentions,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
The bill would require that the administration provide Congress with “detailed briefings” on a regular basis on any discussions that it has with Taiwan on the arms sales issue and on any “potential transfer” of weapons to Taiwan.
The briefings would enable Congress to take a more proactive position with the administration on the arms sales issue to help ensure that the sales go through, congressional staffers involved in shepherding the bill through the House say.
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