US Diplomat: Taiwan Arms Sale Not Tied to China Talks
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Michael DeSombre, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told a House Foreign Affairs Committee subcommittee on June 25 that the $14 billion Taiwan arms sale notification does not hinge on discussions with China, responding 'Correct' when asked to confirm
- President Trump told reporters after his May meeting with Xi Jinping that the weapons package was a 'bargaining chip' held in 'abeyance' that depended on China — comments that dismayed officials in Taipei and appeared to depart from US policy
- DeSombre confirmed the 'Six Assurances' — the longstanding US commitment that arms sales to Taiwan would not be negotiated with Beijing — still guide American policy, even though China 'always' raises the issue
- DeSombre offered no timeline for a decision, stating the package remains under review by Trump
- Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said after the Trump-Xi meeting that the island 'would not be sacrificed or traded'
- In December, the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the largest ever, suggesting the $14 billion package could similarly advance
Why it matters: DeSombre's testimony puts the State Department's institutional Taiwan policy on the congressional record against Trump's offhand remarks, giving Taipei documented reassurance that the Six Assurances remain operative. For Beijing, it signals the $14 billion package may proceed on its own merits rather than serve as a trade concession — though Trump's continued review power means the sale is not guaranteed.
Ask SkimNews
