Taiwan says US commitment to island unchanged as Trump fails to approve $14bn arms sales package amid truce with China | Today’s news
Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo said on Tuesday (local time) that Washington’s commitment to the defense of Taipei has not changed just weeks after US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping for the second time in Washington.
He told parliament he had heard of no US plans to break up the proposed $14 billion arms sale into smaller packages, Reuters reported.
Taiwan says US defense support has not changed due to uncertainty
Koo noted that the US has reaffirmed its commitment to helping Taiwan strengthen its self-defense capabilities, adding: “As for the arms sale, we respect the US review process. We also continue to coordinate with the United States. We have not received any information about the so-called separate batches at this time.”
He said Taipei and Washington “really have a close relationship in the military and defense sphere”, adding: “This will also help us in our current efforts to combat readiness and transform our armed forces.”
Earlier, Taiwanese officials said the US could split the arms sales package into smaller parts so as not to upset Beijing too much.
US reaffirms commitment to Taiwan, but Trump delays arms sales package
A US State Department spokesman said the Trump administration had made its position very clear: “the US’s enduring commitment to Taiwan continues,” as evidenced by its announcement on the arms sale issued in December. However, the spokeswoman did not confirm the pending sales package of weapons.
The US president approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, but has delayed approving the latest proposed sale to Taipei as he seeks closer ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping and seeks to preserve their trade truce.
In January, US lawmakers also approved a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, but the sale cannot move forward until Trump formally submits it to Congress, the AP reported.
After Trump met Xi in May, during their first meeting this year, he said he was delaying the second package, describing it as a “very good bargaining chip.” The US president added: “I will make a decision. But, you know, I think the last thing we need right now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away.”
Beijing, which considers Taiwan its own territory, has repeatedly called for an end to arms sales.
Reuters reported that US law requires Washington to help Taiwan maintain its self-defense capabilities. The US also remains a major international supporter of Taiwan, although the two do not have formal diplomatic relations.
But whether Washington will finally move forward with the arms sales package or whether Trump will prioritize relations with China remains to be seen.
