Taiwan Defends US Arms Ties as Trump Wavers on New Weapons Deal
Taipei-Taiwan on Saturday reaffirmed the importance of US arms sales to the island, saying the transfers are grounded in American law and essential for deterring regional threats after US President Donald Trump said he had not yet decided on approving a major new weapons package.
The remarks came after Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where the US president acknowledged uncertainty over future military sales to Taiwan, raising questions about Washington’s security commitment to the self-governed island claimed by China.
Despite having no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the United States remains Taipei’s most significant international supporter and is required under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with defensive weapons.
Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, said China’s intensifying military activities represented the main destabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait.
“Military sales between Taiwan and the US are not only a reflection of the US security commitment to Taiwan as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also serve as a mutual deterrence against regional threats,” Kuo said in a statement.She added that Taiwan appreciated Trump’s continued support for stability in the Taiwan Strait and would continue strengthening cooperation with Washington.
Reuters previously reported that a proposed second US arms package for Taiwan valued at approximately $14 billion remains pending approval after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion package in December.
Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi declined to comment directly on the pending sale, saying discussions remained ongoing with Washington.Taiwan’s government has also struggled to secure passage of a broader $40 billion defense spending proposal through an opposition-controlled parliament.
Earlier this month lawmakers approved roughly two-thirds of the requested budget, specifically allocating it for US arms procurement.US lawmakers from both major parties have urged the administration to continue supporting Taiwan militarily amid growing pressure from Beijing.
Trump also suggested he could speak directly with Lai regarding the proposed sale, telling reporters after his meeting with Xi that he needed to talk with “the person that’s running Taiwan.”Chen said Taipei was still trying to determine the “true intent” behind Trump’s comments.
A senior Taiwanese security official, speaking anonymously because of the issue’s sensitivity, said arms discussions should involve Taiwan rather than Beijing.China has increased military operations around Taiwan in recent years and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.
Beijing rejects Lai’s government and labels him a separatist.Kuo reiterated Taiwan’s position that the Republic of China, the island’s formal name, is “a sovereign, independent democratic country,” dismissing Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
