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 T$800 million (US$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.
France sold the six frigates to Taiwan for US$2.8 billion in 1991, causing a freeze in diplomatic relations between Paris and Beijing.