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US arms sales to Taiwan on ‘pause’ due to Iran war, says acting navy chief
TL;DR
US arms sales to Taiwan are currently paused to prioritize munitions for operations in Iran, according to the acting navy chief. This delay affects a $14 billion weapons package awaiting approval.
Key points
- US arms sales to Taiwan are paused
- Pause is to prioritize munitions for Iran operations
- A $14 billion weapons package is awaiting approval
- Decision on arms sales rests with the secretary of state and Pentagon chief
- US missile stockpiles have been significantly depleted
Mentioned in this story
US NavyDonald TrumpHung CaoMitch McConnellMarco RubioPete HegsethTaiwan
Epic Fury
US arms sales to Taiwan have been put on “pause” to ensure its military has enough munitions for its Iran operations, according to Washington’s acting navy secretary, in the latest blow to Taipei after a series of comments by Donald Trump.
When asked at a congressional hearing on Thursday about a $14bn (£10.4bn) weapons package, which has been 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, then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.”
When asked by the US senator Mitch McConnell 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,” said McConnell.
Concern is growing over reports that the US has burned through a significant chunk of its missile stockpiles since launching its increasingly intractable war against Iran on 28 February, which has since settled into a fragile ceasefire.
‘The foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,’ said Hung Cao (pictured on Tuesday). Photograph: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Responding to Cao’s statement, Taiwan’s presidential office spokesperson, Karen Kuo, said on Friday that Taipei had received “no information indicating that the US intends to make any adjustments to this arms sale”.
But the announcement will be unwelcome news for Taipei, coming a week after Trump met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing for a summit in which Washington’s multibillion-dollar weapons packages to Taiwan were high on the agenda.
Beijing has repeatedly said it “resolutely opposes” Washington’s arms sales to the island democracy, which it regards as a breakaway province, despite never having ruled it, and has not renounced the use of force to take.
Q&A
Why are US arms sales to Taiwan on pause?
US arms sales to Taiwan are paused to ensure sufficient munitions for military operations in Iran.
What is the value of the weapons package awaiting approval for Taiwan?
The weapons package awaiting approval for Taiwan is valued at $14 billion.
Who is responsible for deciding on the arms sales to Taiwan?
The decision on arms sales to Taiwan will be made by the secretary of state and the Pentagon chief.
What impact has the Iran war had on US military stockpiles?
The Iran war has reportedly depleted a significant portion of the US missile stockpiles.
