Experts Doubt US Arms Pause Link to Iran War

Experts have expressed skepticism over the Trump administration's claim that a pause in delivering a $14 billion weapons package to Taiwan is due to the Iran war. Analysts told The Guardian that there is a "low likelihood" of any true connection between events in Iran and weapons delivery to Taiwan, suggesting instead that the delay could be linked to broader geopolitical negotiations.

According to Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, the arms package left in limbo after Donald Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping could take up to six years to process. He noted that if Trump approves the sales "in the next four to six weeks," uncertainty about U.S. support for Taipei would mostly dissipate. However, if delays drag on into the autumn, it would put Taiwan in a "terrible position."

The pause was suggested by acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao at a congressional hearing, who stated that the delay was to ensure munitions were available for Epic Fury, the Iran war. This justification was criticized as making "no sense" by Hammond-Chambers and other analysts.

Reuters reported comments from an unnamed U.S. official stating that the military had "more than enough munitions" and that the pause in sales to Taiwan was "unrelated to the war with Iran." Meanwhile, China claims Taiwan as a breakaway province and strongly opposes Washington’s arms sales to the island democracy.

Trump's suggestion he could use Taiwan arms sales as a bargaining chip would violate longstanding U.S. policy not to discuss the issue with Beijing. His comments have raised concerns about Washington’s support for Taiwan, especially after Xi told Trump in Beijing that the Taiwan issue was "the most important issue in China-US relations." The White House and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office were approached for comment but did not respond.