WASHINGTON – The Bush administration announced plans Friday to sell $6 billion in arms to Taiwan, a decision sure to anger Taiwan's rival China and one that could complicate stalled North Korean disarmament efforts.

The announcement of the package, which includes Apache helicopters and Patriot III anti-missile missiles, came in a notification to Congress posted on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency Web site. The State Department said lawmakers, who were expected to leave Friday to campaign for November elections, have 30 days to comment on the proposed sale. Without objections, the deal is completed.

The arms package enjoys support among senior lawmakers. China, however, vehemently opposes the U.S. provision of weapons to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and threatens to invade should the self-governing island ever formalize its de facto independence.

The United States and China are part of troubled six-nation negotiations to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons. A successful result to the stalled talks is an important foreign policy goal of the Bush administration in its remaining months in office. China, which hosts the talks, is seen as having economic and political leverage with the North.

The State Department said in a statement that the arms package, which also includes Harpoon missiles, Javelin missiles, upgrades for Taiwan's E-2T aircraft and spare parts for Taiwan's air force, is “a significant and tangible demonstration of the commitment of this administration to provide Taiwan the defensive arms its needs to be strong.”

Taiwan relies on U.S. weapons to keep pace with China's massive arms buildup across the Taiwan Strait. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are a sensitive matter because any dispute between China and Taiwan could ensnare the United States, Taiwan's most important ally and largest arms supplier. Washington shifted its recognition as China's official government from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but it remains committed to Taiwan's defense and has hinted it could come to the island's aid if China should attack.

Washington has tried to strike a balance between providing for the defense of Taiwan and establishing better military ties with China.

U.S. caution about selling arms to Taiwan reflects China's growing economic and political clout. The Bush administration needs China's help in a host of international efforts, including attempts to confront Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs.

This year's U.S. Defense Department report on China's military said Beijing continues its huge military buildup opposite Taiwan, further pushing the balance of power between the two rivals toward the mainland's favor.