Taiwan plans to buy eight second-hand Perry-class frigates from the United States despite improved ties with arch rival China, according to a news report. The island hopes to arm them with a version of the advanced Aegis Combat System, which uses computers and radars to take out multiple targets, as well as sophisticated missile launch technology. The United States designed the Perry-class frigates in the 1970s but the majority remains in service, equipped with various forms of modern technology. The deal would add to Taiwan's existing inventory, as it already has eight Perry-class frigates built on the island.