US President Trump Says $14 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan 'Under Consideration'

(Central News Agency, Washington, D.C., 5th) U.S. President Donald Trump, who said after the Trump-Xi summit that he would make a decision soon on a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday that the matter is "under consideration."

Trump visited China in mid-May and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. After the summit, Trump said he discussed the arms sale with Xi and that he would make a decision soon on a new batch of arms sales to Taiwan, also mentioning he would speak with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

Regarding the pending $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week in a congressional hearing that it is a very large arms sale that "has implications for our defense industrial base and the direction of future production lines," and that the U.S. must balance these factors with other considerations. He clarified that the sale is under internal review within the Department of War, not "paused," and that the correct term is a continuing review.

Rubio also stated that the U.S. will not consult China on arms sales to Taiwan, saying, "This is consistent with our long-standing and unchanged policy."