US Delays Taiwan Arms as China Increases Maritime Pressure

President Donald Trump has delayed approval of a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, describing the sales as a "very good negotiating chip" ahead of meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC and G20 summits. This delay comes as tensions escalate across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

On October 20, 2026, the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army dispatched naval forces to monitor the USS Charleston near Sabina Shoal, accusing the U.S. vessel of an "illegal intrusion." Simultaneously, a standoff occurred near the Pratas Islands, where the Taiwan Coast Guard warned away a Chinese vessel. During the encounter, the Chinese ship broadcast that the "so-called Republic of China does not exist," while the Taiwanese vessel responded that the "Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign and independent country."

Randall Schriver, chair of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, warned in Taipei that persistent Chinese patrols are "highly destabilising" and serve as an extension of legal and information warfare. Schriver further cautioned that the U.S. and Taiwan have not yet established the necessary network of unmanned systems to thwart a potential invasion, citing a "sense of urgency" due to munitions shortages and an aircraft carrier gap. In response, Taiwan's Legislative Yuan approved a NT$240 billion budget for drone capabilities, and the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026 directed the co-development of uncrewed systems with Taiwan.