The United States has put a temporary hold on arms sales to Taiwan, a decision aimed at ensuring sufficient military resources are available for operations related to the conflict involving Iran. This announcement was made by acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao during a congressional hearing, where he emphasized that the pause is necessary to retain munitions critical for ongoing U.S. military activities. He assured that foreign military sales would resume once the administration deemed it suitable.
This delay impacts a significant weapons package intended for Taiwan, which has reportedly been pending approval for several months. The ultimate decision on the resumption of sales will rest with senior officials in the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In response, Taiwan’s presidential office noted that it had not received any official information regarding changes to the proposed arms transaction, sparking unease in Taipei, especially following recent discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Taiwan featured prominently on the agenda.
China remains firmly opposed to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, considering the island a part of its territory. Beijing has consistently warned against foreign intervention and support for Taiwan, maintaining that it has not ruled out the use of force. This adds another layer of complexity to the already tense relations between the U.S. and China concerning Taiwan.
Adding to the uncertainty, recent statements from President Trump have suggested a potential shift in U.S. support for Taiwan. He remarked that the weapons packages could serve as a “negotiating chip” in discussions with China, implying that a decision on the pending sales would be made at a later date. Despite the current pause, U.S. law mandates that Washington supply Taiwan with defensive military equipment as stipulated by the Taiwan Relations Act.