Taiwan has renewed calls for continued US military support after President Donald Trump said he had not yet decided whether to approve a new arms package for the island.
The comments came after Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing, where discussions reportedly touched on Taiwan, trade and regional security.
Taiwan’s government responded on Saturday by insisting that U.S. weapons sales are rooted in American law and remain vital to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a statement, spokesperson Karen Kuo, speaking for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, said China’s growing military pressure around the Taiwan Strait remains the biggest threat to regional peace.
“Military sales between Taiwan and the U.S. are not only part of Washington’s commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act, but also serve as a shared deterrent against regional threats,” she said.
Although the United States has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Washington remains Taipei’s most important international ally and is legally required under the Taiwan Relations Act to help the island defend itself.
Trump’s latest remarks have, however, created uncertainty over future support. Speaking after his summit with Xi, the U.S. president said he was still undecided on a proposed multibillion-dollar weapons package for Taiwan.
Reports indicate the package, worth about $14 billion, is awaiting White House approval. It would follow an earlier $11 billion arms deal approved by the Trump administration in December.
Taiwanese officials avoided directly commenting on the pending deal but stressed that communication with Washington remains ongoing.
Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said Taipei was still trying to understand the “true intent” behind Trump’s remarks, especially after the U.S. president suggested he might discuss the issue directly with Taiwan’s leadership.
Meanwhile, China has continued to ramp up military activities near Taiwan, sending warships and aircraft around the island almost daily.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against foreign military support for the self-governed island. Taiwan rejects those claims and insists it is already a sovereign and democratic nation.
Despite pressure from Beijing, Taiwanese officials said they would continue strengthening ties with Washington while pushing for stronger defence capabilities amid rising regional tensions.
