Republican Senator John Cornyn on Tuesday accused US President Barack Obama of treating Taiwan in a “deplorable” way and said he was attaching an amendment — aimed at forcing the White House to sell Taipei advanced F-16C/D jets — to a vitally important trade bill.

The provision was to be introduced yesterday, when the Obama administration was expected to officially unveil its latest Taiwanese arms deal package to Congress.

Senior administration officials have already leaked word that the package will not include the 66 F-16C/Ds that Taiwan desperately wants to modernize its air force.