US House of Representatives Rob Simmons said he will urge Taiwan's parliament to pass an arms bill to buy eight new diesel submarines, all of which could be built in a shipyard in his home state of Connecticut.

"The Republic of China on Taiwan needs new submarines for the same reasons the United States does: to counter a growing Chinese naval threat," Simmons said in a statement released ahead of his three-day trip starting Monday.

"Only submarines have the stealth, survivability and power projection that Taiwan ultimately needs to deter aggression in the Strait," he said.

China currently has at least 800 short-range ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan, and that number is increasing by 100 a year, Taiwan's defense ministry has said.

Simmons will meet Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, Foreign Minister James Huang and other government and naval officials.

Taiwan's opposition parties have blocked a 340-billion Taiwan dollar (10.6 billion US) arms-purchase package.

The bill, proposed by the defense ministry, has yet to win approval by the procedure committee of the opposition-controlled parliament, a necessary step before it can be heard in the full house.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it is prepared to use force if the island declares formal independence. The two split in 1949 after a civil war.

The United States remains the leading arms supplier to Taiwan despite its switching of diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979.

Related Links
-