TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) 鈥� Taiwan hasn’t been notified of any pause in a planned $14 billion U.S. arms sale to the self-governing island, a government official said Friday, after the acting U.S. Navy secretary told a Senate committee in Washington that some foreign military sales were being delayed to ensure the American military has enough munitions for .
Days after U.S. President about continuing arms sales to Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao said Thursday that the sales would resume when the administration considers it appropriate.
鈥淩ight now we鈥檙e doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for 鈥楨pic Fury,鈥欌�� Cao told the U.S. Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, referring to the Trump administration’s name for the Iran operation. 鈥淭hen the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.鈥�
Taiwan’s authorities have seen the reports, 鈥渂ut currently there is no information regarding any adjustments the U.S. will make to this arms sale,鈥� Taiwanese presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said Friday when asked about Cao鈥檚 comments.
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province to be brought under its control by force if necessary. Like other countries that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Beijing, the U.S. doesn’t recognize Taiwan as a country, but Washington remains the island鈥檚 strongest backer and arms supplier.
Trump鈥檚 Republican administration authorized an for Taipei in December, but it has yet to move forward. American lawmakers also approved a separate $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan in January, though the deal can’t proceed until Trump formally submits it to U.S. Congress.
In an interview with Fox 海角社区app on his way back to the United States from last week鈥檚 trip to Beijing, Trump said that arms sales to Taiwan are 鈥渁 very good negotiating chip鈥� in Washington鈥檚 dealings with China.
On Wednesday, marking his two years in office, Taiwanese President said that if given the chance, he would tell Trump to , which Lai called essential for peace.
China warns U.S. over Taiwan
When asked about Cao’s comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that 鈥淐hina鈥檚 opposition to the U.S. arms sale to China鈥檚 Taiwan region is consistent, clear-cut and resolute.鈥�
Last week, during Trump’s visit to Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a strong warning, telling him that the is the most important issue in U.S.-China relations and that the two nations could 鈥渉ave clashes and even conflicts,鈥� if the issues isn’t handled properly.
Trump later told reporters that he needed to talk to the person who is running Taiwan, without naming Lai, who Beijing deems a separatist.
Trump and Lai holding talks likely would anger China, which typically responds strongly to visits to Taiwan by U.S. politicians.
Kuo, the Taiwan presidential spokesperson, said Friday there was no more information about a potential conversation between Lai and Trump.
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