Taiwan continues to await U.S. approval on a proposed arms sale amid concerns raised by recent comments linking the delay to U.S. military operations against Iran. The sale, reportedly valued at up to $14 billion, has been pending for some time and is part of the U.S. commitment under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with defensive capabilities.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump introduced uncertainty regarding the arms package after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating he had not yet decided whether to approve the deal. Following this, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao testified before a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee that arms sales to Taiwan were temporarily paused to ensure the U.S. military had sufficient munitions for Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli military action launched against Iran in February.

However, a source familiar with the matter disputed this characterization, emphasizing that arms sales approvals typically take years to complete and are independent of current conflicts in the Middle East. The source also asserted that the U.S. maintains ample stockpiles to meet all strategic requirements. Additionally, a White House official reaffirmed that Trump is expected to make a decision on the Taiwan arms package shortly and highlighted that the administration had already approved $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan in December 2020. The official further noted that Trump had authorized more arms sales to Taiwan during his first term than any previous U.S. president.

Taiwanese officials have expressed no awareness of any delays connected to the arms sales. The island government continues to voice concerns about increasing military pressure from China, whose naval and air forces reportedly conduct near-daily operations around Taiwan. On Saturday, Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu posted on social media platform X that China had deployed more than 100 ships along the “first island chain,” which extends from Japan, through Taiwan, to the Philippines. Wu described China as the principal destabilizing force in the region, accusing it of undermining the status quo and threatening peace and stability.

China’s Ministry of Defense did not respond to requests for comment. Chinese officials have consistently called on the United States to cease arms sales to Taiwan, insisting that such transactions violate China’s sovereignty claims and increase regional tensions. The U.S. government, however, maintains its official policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged despite the ongoing diplomatic sensitivities.