Taiwan’s envoy to the United States expressed confidence that President Donald Trump would ultimately approve a pending $14 billion arms sale to the island, despite some delays and uncertainty tied to Trump’s outreach to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s representative in Washington, acknowledged the process could move faster but remained optimistic about receiving the necessary military equipment to counter growing security threats from China.
The proposed arms package, which includes significant air defense systems, has been stalled amid heightened scrutiny as Trump pursues closer ties with China. Efforts to woo Xi have raised questions about the U.S. commitment to Taiwan, a self-governing entity that Beijing regards as part of its territory. Yui emphasized that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged and that Washington has resisted calls from Beijing to explicitly oppose Taiwan’s independence beyond the longstanding "One China" policy.
A senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is expected to decide on the arms deal in the near future, though no specific timeline was provided. Trump himself has downplayed tensions, describing arms sales to Taiwan as a useful bargaining tool in negotiations with Beijing. The president and Xi are slated to meet at least twice more in 2026 during international summits, with Taiwan’s status remaining a particularly delicate subject. Yui stressed the importance of ensuring Taiwan is not a contentious topic in these discussions.
Tensions around Taiwan also manifested during the September visit of the two leaders to the National Archives in Washington, where Chinese officials succeeded in preventing the display of the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco. The treaty, which officially ended Japanese sovereignty over Taiwan but did not designate its new sovereign, remains sensitive given Beijing’s claim over the island.
Despite the current uncertainty, U.S. officials highlight Trump’s approval of a record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan last December as evidence of ongoing support. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson affirmed Taiwan’s status as a key partner and ally, noting that the delay in finalizing the latest package relates partially to ongoing crises in the Middle East.
This week, confusion intensified after U.S. Ambassador to China David Pereira stated that Trump had asked Xi if he wanted to buy American weapons—a claim the president initially disputed before suggesting such sales could be considered. The State Department reaffirmed current U.S. law strictly prohibits arms sales to China, dismissing any such plans.
The broader implications of U.S. support for Taiwan are significant. Taiwan’s leadership in producing advanced semiconductors underpins global technology industries, including artificial intelligence and advanced computing. Analysts note that Taiwan’s security is critical not only for regional stability but also for maintaining U.S. credibility among allies across Asia.
Congressional leaders from both parties have urged Trump to formally notify lawmakers about the pending arms sale and to reaffirm the U.S. “One China” policy framework. The United States maintains unofficial relations with Taipei, providing defensive weapons while deliberately avoiding explicit commitments on military intervention in the event of Chinese aggression.
Ryan Hass, a former National Security Council official, anticipates additional arms sales during Trump’s term, potentially in smaller increments following scheduled meetings in China and the United States later this year. Nonetheless, he warned that uncertainty in U.S. policy risks emboldening China’s efforts to isolate Taiwan, undermining regional security.
For Taiwan, the primary concern remains the timely procurement of defensive capabilities, a prerequisite for deterring any potential Chinese military action. The ongoing ambiguity surrounding U.S. intentions has heightened anxieties about both the island’s security and the broader geopolitical balance in the Indo-Pacific region.