Rubio: Beijing Always Brings Up Taiwan Arms Sales, But US Decisions Won't Be Delayed

(CNA Washington, 2nd) US President Donald Trump recently stated that the pending $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan is a good bargaining chip. In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that Trump meant that China always brings up the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan, but it will never be a factor that delays US decision-making; the arms sale is a matter for Trump to "decide when and how to execute." Rubio had a busy schedule today, attending a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the State Department budget in the morning, followed by a House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, State Department, and Related Programs hearing in the afternoon. Many senators at the Foreign Relations Committee hearing expressed concern over Taiwan-related issues, including Trump's remark after the Trump-Xi meeting that arms sales to Taiwan are a good bargaining chip. In response, Rubio said that Trump's real meaning is that China always brings up the arms sales issue, "as if it's their priority," and they constantly talk about US arms sales to Taiwan, "but it is never a factor that delays our decision-making or the White House's decision-making." The United States is Taiwan's primary source for foreign weapons procurement. Beijing has always opposed US arms sales to Taiwan. Regarding the $14 billion US arms sale to Taiwan, Rubio said it is currently "under review." He pointed out that arms sales to Taiwan are a matter "the President will have to decide when and how to execute." "We just completed a very large (arms sale to Taiwan) last December, so there are various reasons why these things don't happen immediately." The Trump 2.0 administration approved an $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan last December. Speaking on Taiwan's importance, Rubio said Taiwan's strategic importance lies not only in its geographical location but also in the message it sends to the world if "something happens" to Taiwan. He also reiterated that Washington's policy toward Taiwan has not changed. (Editor: Tang Shengyang) 1150603