The United States has paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan to ensure it has enough weapons for its war against Iran, according to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. The pause was confirmed during a Senate hearing on Thursday, days after President Donald Trump appeared non-committal about the sale following his meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. has paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan to ensure munitions availability for its conflict with Iran. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed this during a Senate hearing, citing the need to prioritize weapons stockpiles. The decision comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan's status.
- US pauses $14B arms sale to Taiwan due to Iran war
- Decision made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Taiwan uninformed about adjustments to the arms sale
- Trump suggests using arms sale as a negotiating chip with China
- CSIS reports significant depletion of U.S. arsenal during Iran conflict
Taiwan's presidential office stated it had not received any information about adjustments to the arms sale. The $14 billion package includes air defense missiles and surface-to-air missile systems, according to a Reuters report in March. The sale has been waiting for Trump's approval for months.
The pause comes amid growing tensions between the US and China over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. Trump has suggested using the arms sale as a 'negotiating chip' with China, despite a decades-old precedent against consulting with Beijing on such matters. The decision to move forward with the sale will be made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump's comments about potentially speaking directly to Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te about the arms deal have raised concerns, as direct communication between US and Taiwanese leaders could provoke an angry response from Beijing. The US is committed to helping Taiwan defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act but does not officially recognize Taiwan.
When asked at a congressional hearing on Thursday about the $14bn (£10.4bn) weapons package awaiting Trump’s signoff for months, Hung Cao said: “Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury [the Iran war] – which we have plenty.”
Cao added: “We’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.” When the US senator Mitch McConnell asked whether he expected the arms sales to Taiwan to be approved eventually, Cao said the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon chief, would make that decision. “Yeah, that’s what’s really distressing,” McConnell said.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported that the U.S. has depleted significant portions of its arsenal during the Iran conflict, including Tomahawk and Patriot missiles. CSIS noted that rebuilding stockpiles to prewar levels could take one to four years, further complicating the situation.
Senator John Kennedy emphasized the strategic importance of arming Taiwan during a subcommittee hearing, stating that weaponizing Taiwan provides the U.S. with leverage in its security competition with China. Admiral Daryl Caudle, the Navy's chief of operations, agreed that strengthening Taiwan's defenses is crucial.
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