The United States has temporarily suspended a roughly $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan because of the ongoing military situation in Iran, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed at a Senate hearing.
At the hearing on Thursday, Cao said the United States wants to make sure it has enough munitions and weapons stockpiled for the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran, codenamed Epic Fury. “We have enough weapons. But a temporary pause has been put in place to ensure necessary stockpiles. The administration will resume the sale when it deems it necessary,” Cao said. A spokesman for Taiwan’s presidential office, however, said Taipei had not been formally notified of any change or suspension to the arms sale by Washington.
China has long objected to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly said it could use force if necessary. The suspended $14 billion package reportedly includes air defense missiles — particularly Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 — and surface-to-air missile systems. The package has been awaiting final approval from U.S. President Donald Trump for several months.
After a recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump declined to take a firm position, saying arms sales to Taiwan could be an important bargaining chip in talks with China. He said a decision would be made soon. During his visit to Beijing, Xi told Trump that Taiwan was the most important issue in U.S.-China relations. Trump later told reporters he had discussed Taiwan arms sales with Xi in detail.
Trump has also said he may speak directly with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, a step that would break with long-standing diplomatic convention and risk angering China. In December, China responded sharply when the United States approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan.
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