TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said Thursday the US has paused a NT$441.4 billion (US$14 billion) arms sale to Taiwan due to the Trump administration’s ongoing military engagement with Iran, The Hill reported.
Cao noted that the move aims to ensure sufficient munitions are available to meet US operational needs. He emphasized the US still has adequate stocks of weapons to cope with the conflict in Iran.
Cao said the US government has conducted a review of its weapons stockpiles and adjusted deployments. He highlighted that foreign military sales will resume when the administration deems it appropriate.
Presidential Office Spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui (郭雅慧) said Friday the office has not received information indicating that the US plans to adjust the arms sale. She hopes the special defense procurement budget under review in the legislature can be completed as scheduled.
Earlier this month, the legislature passed the opposition parties’ revised version of the government’s eight-year NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget, approving a reduced NT$780 billion package.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said the government has drawn up the first batch of US procurement plan worth nearly NT$295 billion based on the approved package. The planned purchases include M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, loitering munitions, and counter-drone systems.
The funding will be allocated on an annual basis, with NT$8.8 billion set aside for this year, Cho added.
Taiwan officials also urged Trump to continue arms sales as a means of deterring potential military threats from China. Taiwan’s representative to the US, Alexander Yui (俞大㵢), said Taiwan should purchase deterrent weapons to build a stronger self-defense posture.
Trump led a delegation on a four-day visit to China through May 15 and met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. After the meeting, Trump said he discussed details of the arms sales with Xi and may consider approving the US arms package planned for Taiwan.
The US has long followed the Six Assurances, six nonbinding policy principles established in 1982 under the Reagan administration. The second assurance states the US will not consult China on arms sales to Taiwan.
