The United States has placed a temporary hold on arms sales to Taiwan to ensure sufficient military resources for ongoing operations related to the conflict with Iran. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced this decision during a congressional hearing, emphasizing the need to conserve munitions for U.S. military activities. He noted that foreign military sales to Taiwan would resume when deemed appropriate by the administration.
This pause impacts a significant weapons package for Taiwan, which has been pending approval for several months. U.S. officials have indicated that the ultimate decision regarding the sales will rest with senior administration figures, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Despite the delay, Taiwan’s presidential office has stated it has not yet received any official notification regarding changes to the arms deal, though the situation has sparked concern in Taipei.
These developments come in the wake of recent discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which Taiwan reportedly emerged as a central topic. China remains staunchly opposed to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, viewing the island as part of its territory. Beijing has consistently cautioned against international support for Taiwan, without excluding the possibility of using force.
Adding to the uncertainty, President Trump has recently described the weapons packages as a potential “negotiating chip” in talks with China, stating that he would make a decision on the pending sales at a later stage. Despite the current pause, U.S. law under the Taiwan Relations Act mandates that Washington provide Taiwan with defensive military equipment.