US lawmakers urge Trump to approve $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan
President Trump stated he will decide on the $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan soon after his visit to China. Lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties emphasized the importance of supporting Taiwan's defense.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 13:33
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Central News Agency, Washington, May 15 (Reported by foreign media) President Trump stated after ending his visit to China that he will make a decision soon regarding the $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. In response, lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties expressed that the US should continue providing arms to Taiwan.
CBS News reported that Trump told the media aboard Air Force One after leaving Beijing that he "talked a lot about Taiwan" with Xi Jinping during the summit and confirmed that Xi mentioned US arms sales to Taiwan. Trump said he "did not make any commitments" on this issue and refused to publicly state whether the US would defend Taiwan if Beijing were to invade.
These remarks immediately drew attention on Capitol Hill. Taiwan has long enjoyed strong bipartisan support in the US Congress, and lawmakers have been urging the Trump administration to push forward with the $14 billion arms sale package that was passed by Congress in January of this year but had been delayed.
Texas Republican Senator and former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul said today that the US must "arm Taiwan so they can defend themselves, to deter Chairman Xi."
McCaul said that during the summit, Xi Jinping's attitude on the Taiwan issue was very tough, and "most of what (Xi) talked about was related to Taiwan."
When asked about Trump not yet deciding on the arms sale, McCaul responded that there "should" be a decision.
Trump told Fox News host Bret Baier after meeting with Xi Jinping that he thinks the pending arms sale to Taiwan is a "good bargaining chip." Trump said: "I might do it (approve the arms sale), or I might not." He then added: "If Taiwan eases the situation slightly, it would be very wise, and if China eases the situation slightly, it would also be very wise."
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks also emphasized the importance of US support for Taiwan's defense. Before the summit, Meeks and several other senior Democratic congressmen had urged Trump to approve the delayed arms sale before meeting with Xi, warning that delaying the sale could weaken the deterrence against China launching an invasion of Taiwan.
New York Representative Meeks told CBS News today: "I think it's very important to ensure that Taiwan has everything it needs for self-defense."
Meeks also pointed out that Xi Jinping "has influence over the president," but "not over the US Congress and the American people." He said that Congress has already taken action on the arms sale package, and now "the president is delaying it."
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also reiterated his support for Taiwan today, although he said he had not yet received a full briefing from Trump regarding the summit.
Johnson said: "We are always concerned, and we have made the US interest very clear. Our position on the Taiwan issue is that they need to maintain autonomy and security."
Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick compared Taiwan to Ukraine, calling both "democratic bastions" that are "on the front line."
Fitzpatrick said: "We must support Taiwan. We should strengthen our support for Taiwan."
CBS News reported that Trump told the media aboard Air Force One after leaving Beijing that he "talked a lot about Taiwan" with Xi Jinping during the summit and confirmed that Xi mentioned US arms sales to Taiwan. Trump said he "did not make any commitments" on this issue and refused to publicly state whether the US would defend Taiwan if Beijing were to invade.
These remarks immediately drew attention on Capitol Hill. Taiwan has long enjoyed strong bipartisan support in the US Congress, and lawmakers have been urging the Trump administration to push forward with the $14 billion arms sale package that was passed by Congress in January of this year but had been delayed.
Texas Republican Senator and former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul said today that the US must "arm Taiwan so they can defend themselves, to deter Chairman Xi."
McCaul said that during the summit, Xi Jinping's attitude on the Taiwan issue was very tough, and "most of what (Xi) talked about was related to Taiwan."
When asked about Trump not yet deciding on the arms sale, McCaul responded that there "should" be a decision.
Trump told Fox News host Bret Baier after meeting with Xi Jinping that he thinks the pending arms sale to Taiwan is a "good bargaining chip." Trump said: "I might do it (approve the arms sale), or I might not." He then added: "If Taiwan eases the situation slightly, it would be very wise, and if China eases the situation slightly, it would also be very wise."
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks also emphasized the importance of US support for Taiwan's defense. Before the summit, Meeks and several other senior Democratic congressmen had urged Trump to approve the delayed arms sale before meeting with Xi, warning that delaying the sale could weaken the deterrence against China launching an invasion of Taiwan.
New York Representative Meeks told CBS News today: "I think it's very important to ensure that Taiwan has everything it needs for self-defense."
Meeks also pointed out that Xi Jinping "has influence over the president," but "not over the US Congress and the American people." He said that Congress has already taken action on the arms sale package, and now "the president is delaying it."
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also reiterated his support for Taiwan today, although he said he had not yet received a full briefing from Trump regarding the summit.
Johnson said: "We are always concerned, and we have made the US interest very clear. Our position on the Taiwan issue is that they need to maintain autonomy and security."
Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick compared Taiwan to Ukraine, calling both "democratic bastions" that are "on the front line."
Fitzpatrick said: "We must support Taiwan. We should strengthen our support for Taiwan."