Trump Pauses $14 Billion Taiwan Arms Sale as Negotiating Chip

The United States has paused a US$14 billion arms package for Taiwan, a deal approved by Congress in January that includes Patriot missiles and drone countermeasures. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao testified before a Senate subcommittee that the freeze is necessary to preserve munitions for Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing conflict with Iran. However, President Donald Trump provided a different rationale, describing the weapons package as a "very good negotiating chip" in his dealings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping following a May summit in Beijing.

Taiwanese officials, including President Lai Ching-te and Defense Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, initially expressed skepticism, noting they received no official notification of the delay. Despite the pause, some analysts suggest immediate readiness is unaffected due to an existing $30 billion backlog of undelivered U.S. weapons. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a resolution reaffirming that support for Taiwan is non-negotiable.

Geopolitical tensions escalated following the U.S.-China summit. The People's Liberation Army conducted multiple joint combat readiness patrols around Taiwan, with dozens of aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan's National Security Council chief, Joseph Wu, reported the deployment of over 100 Chinese vessels across the First Island Chain and the presence of the aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Western Pacific. China's Ministry of National Defense defended these activities as occurring within Chinese airspace and warned Taiwan to avoid provocation.