Bipartisan US Senators Write to Trump, Urging Acceleration of $14 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan
Several bipartisan US federal senators are urging President Trump to expedite a long-delayed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. This arms sale is seen as a crucial indicator of the Trump administration's commitment to Taiwan, especially as Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 22:25
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WASHINGTON, May 11 (CNA) — Several bipartisan US federal senators are urging President Trump to expedite a long-delayed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. As Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, this arms sale is seen as a crucial indicator of the Trump administration's commitment to Taiwan.
According to The New York Times, several US senators sent a letter to Donald Trump on the 8th of this month, urging him to formally notify Congress of the arms sale. They pointed out that Taiwan recently passed a special defense budget with a ceiling of NT$780 billion, leaving no reason for the US to further delay the arms sale plan.
Senior US lawmakers had already approved this arms sale in January, but the plan was subsequently stalled at the State Department for several months, raising questions about the Trump administration's approach to Taiwan and its efforts to readjust US-China relations.
The New York Times reported that US government officials had told some individuals involved in reviewing the arms sale that the White House had instructed a temporary halt to the plan to ensure a smooth meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping.
In their letter, the senators wrote: “Ahead of your summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, we urge you and your team to clearly demonstrate that America’s support for Taiwan is unwavering.”
They also warned that US support for Taiwan should not be used as a bargaining chip in US-China economic or diplomatic negotiations, emphasizing that “America’s support for Taiwan is not negotiable.”
The letter was signed by eight senators: Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons, Elissa Slotkin, Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim, and Jacky Rosen, and Republicans Thom Tillis and John Curtis.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed a special defense budget with a ceiling of NT$780 billion on the 8th. This budget is mostly expected to be used for purchasing US defensive weapon systems, including counter-drone technology and medium-range ammunition.
The New York Times noted that, however, this deal cannot proceed until the Trump administration formally submits the arms sale to Congress. In addition, part of the special defense budget will be used to purchase weapons from another arms sale that was approved by the US Congress and the White House late last year.
The US Congress has long been a staunch supporter of Taiwan, but bipartisan lawmakers are increasingly uneasy about Trump's actions during his second presidential term, with some believing the White House's Taiwan policy signals are confusing.
Trump approved the framework of the arms sale last year, but the formal notification process to Congress has been delayed. At the same time, China's military pressure on Taiwan has intensified, and US officials have publicly encouraged Taiwan to increase its defense budget.
The US senators pointed out in their letter that the Legislative Yuan's passage of the special defense budget last week was a positive response to the US request for increased defense spending.
They wrote: “Just as Taiwan’s leaders have shown unity in supporting their people’s self-defense, we too must advance the outstanding US arms sales to Taiwan that are in our national interest.” (Compiled by Hung Pei-ying) 1150511
According to The New York Times, several US senators sent a letter to Donald Trump on the 8th of this month, urging him to formally notify Congress of the arms sale. They pointed out that Taiwan recently passed a special defense budget with a ceiling of NT$780 billion, leaving no reason for the US to further delay the arms sale plan.
Senior US lawmakers had already approved this arms sale in January, but the plan was subsequently stalled at the State Department for several months, raising questions about the Trump administration's approach to Taiwan and its efforts to readjust US-China relations.
The New York Times reported that US government officials had told some individuals involved in reviewing the arms sale that the White House had instructed a temporary halt to the plan to ensure a smooth meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping.
In their letter, the senators wrote: “Ahead of your summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, we urge you and your team to clearly demonstrate that America’s support for Taiwan is unwavering.”
They also warned that US support for Taiwan should not be used as a bargaining chip in US-China economic or diplomatic negotiations, emphasizing that “America’s support for Taiwan is not negotiable.”
The letter was signed by eight senators: Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons, Elissa Slotkin, Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim, and Jacky Rosen, and Republicans Thom Tillis and John Curtis.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed a special defense budget with a ceiling of NT$780 billion on the 8th. This budget is mostly expected to be used for purchasing US defensive weapon systems, including counter-drone technology and medium-range ammunition.
The New York Times noted that, however, this deal cannot proceed until the Trump administration formally submits the arms sale to Congress. In addition, part of the special defense budget will be used to purchase weapons from another arms sale that was approved by the US Congress and the White House late last year.
The US Congress has long been a staunch supporter of Taiwan, but bipartisan lawmakers are increasingly uneasy about Trump's actions during his second presidential term, with some believing the White House's Taiwan policy signals are confusing.
Trump approved the framework of the arms sale last year, but the formal notification process to Congress has been delayed. At the same time, China's military pressure on Taiwan has intensified, and US officials have publicly encouraged Taiwan to increase its defense budget.
The US senators pointed out in their letter that the Legislative Yuan's passage of the special defense budget last week was a positive response to the US request for increased defense spending.
They wrote: “Just as Taiwan’s leaders have shown unity in supporting their people’s self-defense, we too must advance the outstanding US arms sales to Taiwan that are in our national interest.” (Compiled by Hung Pei-ying) 1150511