Taiwan says it has not been told by US of arms sales delays

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s government said on Friday it had not received any information about U.S. arms sales delays, after a senior U.S. official suggested there was a pause due to the need to have enough arms for the war with Iran.

Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has been waiting for the U.S. to approve a new arms sale package which Reuters has reported could be worth up to $14 billion.

However, U.S. President Donald Trump said following a summit with China’s Xi Jinping in Beijing last week that he was undecided on whether to approve it.

On Thursday, U.S. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao was asked at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing about future arms sales to Taiwan.

“We have done some foreign military sales to them. It’s just 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,” he said, referring to the U.S. operation against Iran.

“But we’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,” he said, adding it would be up to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Secretary of State Marco Rubio on whether to approve the sales to Taiwan.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said they had noted the remarks.

“However, at present we have not received any relevant information about the U.S. adjusting these military sales,” she said.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said it also had not received any notification of arms sales delays.

The ministry continues to “monitor U.S. security cooperation policy” and maintain close coordination and communication with the U.S. to ensure that arms sales proceed according to plan, it said in a statement.

The U.S. is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. China has repeatedly called for the U.S. to stop arms sales.

Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.

台北——台湾政府周五表示，尚未收到任何有关美国武器销售延迟的信息。此前，一位美国高级官员暗示，由于需要足够的武器来应对与伊朗的战争，美国暂停了对台军售。

中国视台湾为其领土的一部分，台湾一直在等待美国批准一项新的军售方案，路透社报道称该方案价值可能高达 140 亿美元。

然而，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普上周在北京与中国国家主席习近平举行峰会后表示，他尚未决定是否批准该协议。

周四，美国代理海军部长曹洪在参议院拨款委员会国防小组委员会的听证会上被问及未来对台军售的问题。

“我们已经向他们进行了一些对外军售。只是现在我们暂停了这项交易，以确保我们拥有‘史诗狂怒’行动所需的弹药——而我们弹药充足，”他指的是美国针对伊朗的军事行动。

“但我们只是确保一切就绪，然后对外军售将在政府认为必要时继续进行，”他说道，并补充说，是否批准对台军售将由国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯和国务卿马可·卢比奥决定。

台湾总统府发言人郭嘉玲在台北对记者表示，他们已经注意到这些言论。

“然而，目前我们还没有收到任何有关美国调整这些军售的相关信息，”她说。

台湾国防部表示，他们也没有收到任何关于武器销售延迟的通知。

该部在一份声明中表示，将继续“关注美国安全合作政策”，并与美国保持密切协调和沟通，以确保武器销售按计划进行。

美国依法有义务向台湾提供自卫所需的武器装备。中国已多次呼吁美国停止对台军售。

台湾政府拒绝接受北京的主权声索，称只有台湾人民才能决定自己的未来。