US delays $14bn Taiwan weapons package as Iran conflict strains munitions supply

A senior United States defence official says Washington has put a $14bn arms package for Taiwan on hold while it safeguards ammunition supplies for its conflict with Iran.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao gave the explanation to members of Congress at a Senate hearing on Thursday. His remarks came one week after the proposed sale featured prominently in discussions in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

“Right now, we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury – which we have plenty,” Cao told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. “But we’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.”

Cao said the final call on advancing the sale, which would be the biggest weapons transfer to Taiwan on record, rests with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The fighting has been halted since Washington and Tehran accepted a ceasefire on April 8, but the two sides have not yet secured a lasting peace agreement.

Congress cleared the Taiwan weapons package in January, although Trump must still approve it before it can proceed. If it goes through, it would overtake the $11bn Taiwan arms package Trump approved in December, which had set the previous record.

Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai said Friday that Taipei would keep seeking weapons purchases, Taiwanese outlet FTV News reported.

William Yang, the Crisis Group’s senior analyst for northeast Asia, wrote on social media that the delay will “exacerbate anxiety and scepticism about US support in Taiwan and make it difficult for the Taiwanese government to request additional defence budget for the foreseeable future”.

Trump has acknowledged that he raised the arms sale with Xi. In a Fox News interview last week, he said he “may” or “may not” authorise the package.

The US president has also described the package as a possible “negotiating chip”, even though Washington has long avoided consulting Beijing over arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing regards self-governing Taiwan as Chinese territory and opposes the continuing, unofficial backing Taipei receives from Washington.

The United States does not formally recognise Taiwan. However, under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, passed soon after Washington cut diplomatic relations with Taipei, the US is committed to supporting the island’s ability to defend itself.

Trump has been pressing against long-standing diplomatic practice on Taiwan in other areas as well. Earlier this week, he said he would consider speaking with Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te about the arms deal.

A conversation with Lai would depart from 40 years of protocol against direct communication with Taiwan’s leader and would almost certainly draw a sharp reaction from Beijing.

After winning the 2016 election, Trump spoke by phone with then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, but that call happened before he took office.