The Taiwanese government is urging the United States to maintain its arms supply, following remarks from President Donald Trump indicating he has yet to decide on future sales.
This situation arises under the Taiwan Relations Act, which mandates the US to provide military support to Taiwan. Trump’s comments came after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where he expressed uncertainty regarding ongoing major arms sales, raising concerns about US support for Taiwan.
In response, Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, emphasized that the growing military threat from China is the “only destabilizing factor” in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the Taiwan Strait. She stated, “Moreover, military sales between Taiwan and the US not only reflect US security commitments to Taiwan as outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act but also serve as mutual deterrence against regional threats.”
Taiwan expressed gratitude for Trump’s longstanding support for security in the Taiwan Strait, reaffirming its commitment to deepen cooperation with the US.
According to Reuters, US lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties have urged the Trump administration to continue arms sales. Go Yu-ren, Vice President of the Taiwan Institute of Political Studies, suggested that Trump might delay the approval of a new arms package until late September, when he is expected to invite Xi to visit the US.
Following his meeting with Xi, Trump hinted to reporters that he would discuss potential arms sales with Taiwanese President Lai, stating, “I need to talk to the person… who runs Taiwan.” While Kuo’s statement did not confirm a conversation between Lai and Trump, a senior Taiwanese security official noted that Trump’s hint was “absolutely clear.”
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Taiwan, Chen Ming-chi, added that the island still needs to understand Trump’s “true intentions” regarding the situation.
Taiwan is pressing the US to continue arms sales amid uncertainty following President Trump's comments after a meeting with China's leader. The situation highlights ongoing tensions in the region and Taiwan's commitment to security cooperation with the US.