The United States has paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed, citing the need to ensure sufficient munitions for the ongoing conflict in Iran. Cao testified at a Senate hearing Thursday, days after President Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and appeared non-committal about the weapons package.
Taiwan's presidential office stated Friday it had received no information regarding any US adjustments to the sale. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force, has long opposed US arms sales to the self-governed island. The $14 billion package, awaiting Trump's approval for months, includes air defense missiles like Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 and surface-to-air missile systems, according to a March Reuters report.
Munitions Prioritized for Iran Conflict
"Right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury - which we have plenty," Cao told lawmakers, using the code name for the US-Israel joint military operation in Iran.
He added, "We're just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary." Cao also noted he had not communicated with Taiwanese officials about the pause.
Trump described the arms sale as "a very good negotiating chip" with China in a Fox News interview last week. He indicated a decision on the weapons sale to Taiwan would come "over the next fairly short period." These remarks followed a Beijing summit where Xi reportedly told Trump that Taiwan was the most significant issue between the two nations. Trump later told reporters he discussed US arms sales to Taiwan "in great detail" with Xi, despite a 1982 US assurance to Taiwan pledging no consultation with Beijing on the matter.
Taiwanese Leader Consultation Possible
He added, "We're just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary."
The president has also expressed willingness to speak directly with Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te regarding the sale. Such a conversation would mark a significant deviation from diplomatic tradition and would likely anger Beijing. US and Taiwanese leaders have not spoken directly for decades, though Trump did speak with Lai's predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, when he was president-elect.
Last December, China's foreign ministry vehemently opposed a separate $11 billion US arms sale to Taiwan, warning it would "accelerate the push towards a dangerous and violent situation across the Taiwan Strait." Lai Ching-te has emphasized that US arms sales are a "key factor in maintaining regional peace and stability." Taiwan has increased its defense spending in response to growing military pressure from China.
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