China urges France to scrap Taiwan arms deal

BEIJING AFP May12, 2020 -  China called on France on Tuesday to cancel a weapons contract with Taiwan, warning that the deal with the self-ruled island could harm diplomatic relations between Paris 
and Beijing.   

Taiwan’s navy said last month it would upgrade the 25-year-old missile interference system of French-built Lafayette frigates, whose sale three decades ago had raised diplomatic tensions.   

Taiwanese media said the deal was worth over Tw$800 million ($26.8 million) to buy the Dagaie MK2 decoy launcher from a unit of French group DCI.   

A source close to the matter told AFP that the Taiwanese Defence Ministry has a contract to modernise its six French-made frigates.   
 “China has expressed deep concern to France,” the Foreign Ministry in Beijing told AFP.