Choppy Move

Taiwan is planning to sign a $111m deal in the next few days to buy 20 helicopters from a European manufacturer in a move which could provoke an angry response from China. “Taiwan said on Friday it would buy military helicopters from a European manufacturer, a move that could ignite China’s anger toward Europe following a storm over U.S. arms sales to the island that Beijing claims as its own. The air force will buy EC-225 search-and-rescue helicopters, defence ministry spokesman Martin Yu said without offering details. China has blasted the United States over a planned $6.4 billion arms package for Taiwan, saying it would place sanctions on U.S. firms that sell weapons to the self-ruled island that Beijing considers a breakaway province of China. Taiwan will sign a $111 million deal in the next few days to buy up to 20 choppers from Eurocopter, the Defense News reported. Eurocopter is a subsidiary under German-based EADS.”