U.S. Pauses Taiwan Arms Sales, Taiwan Reports No Delay
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- Hung Cao said at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing that the United States is pausing foreign military sales to Taiwan to ensure sufficient munitions for the “Epic Fury” operation against Iran.
- Karen Kuo of Taiwan’s Presidential Office said the government has not received any notice from the United States about adjustments or delays to the pending arms sale package.
- Donald Trump told reporters after his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping that he is undecided on approving the Taiwan arms sale, which Reuters estimates could be worth up to $14 billion.
- Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio are identified as the officials who will decide whether to approve the arms sales to Taiwan.
- Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed it is monitoring U.S. security cooperation policy and maintaining close communication with Washington to ensure the arms sales proceed as planned.
Why it matters: Taiwan risks a gap in its defense procurement as the $14 billion weapons deal stalls, while the U.S. balances its Iran campaign with regional security commitments, potentially bolstering China’s pressure to halt sales.
