Trump Reviews $14 Billion Taiwan Arms Sale After Xi Summit

President Donald Trump is reviewing a pending $14 billion military hardware sale to Taiwan following a three-day summit in Washington with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The decision comes amid pressure from a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers who wrote to the White House urging the administration to maintain arms sales and resolve more than $15 billion in stalled national security assistance. Some senators specifically criticized Trump for describing Taiwan as a "very good negotiating chip."

During the summit, President Xi urged the United States to oppose Taiwan independence, which Beijing considers a red line. While the Chinese Foreign Ministry highlighted these demands, the White House fact sheet regarding the talks omitted any mention of Taiwan. U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue stated that the U.S. has not changed its position on the One China Policy or the mandates of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, though he noted the timing of the pending sale remains uncertain as Trump "has a schedule of his own."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration's caution, stating that arms sales must be balanced against U.S. global needs and current inventory. Analysts suggest the package may be delayed to avoid disrupting upcoming meetings in China and at the G20 summit in Miami, or to serve as leverage for Chinese cooperation regarding conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.