Trump Calls Taiwan Arms Sales a Bargaining Chip; U.S. Lawmakers: Weakening Taiwan's Defense Is Not Good Policy
In response to former U.S. President Trump calling pending arms sales to Taiwan a "good bargaining chip," bipartisan U.S. lawmakers have voiced concern. Republican Rep. Michael McCaul stated, "I don't think it's good policy to weaken Taiwan's ability to defend itself," while Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen emphasized, "Taiwan's security is not a bargaining chip. It is central to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific."
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- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 10:44
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 11:01 (17 min after Published)
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After a summit with Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that pending arms sales to Taiwan were a good bargaining chip. Today, Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, who belongs to the same party as Trump, said he doesn't believe that weakening Taiwan's ability to defend itself is a good policy. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen also stated that Taiwan's security is not a bargaining chip but is central to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, attended a talk today hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to analyze U.S. foreign policy.
In an interview with a CNA reporter after the event, McCaul was asked about Trump's recent comment that the Taiwan arms sale case is a "good bargaining chip." He responded, "I don't think it's good policy to weaken Taiwan's ability to defend itself."
McCaul, who led a delegation to Taiwan in 2024, pointed out that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have always been an established policy, dating back to the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, when the U.S. Congress stated, "We can directly arm Taiwan." He believes Washington should adhere to the spirit of that law.
After the United States severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 as a guideline for the development of U.S.-Taiwan relations. The act stipulates that the U.S. is obligated to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons.
When asked if there might be progress in the short term on the currently pending $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, McCaul said, "I hope so." The more Taiwan's defense capabilities are enhanced through a porcupine strategy, the less likely it is that Xi Jinping will launch an invasion.
Experts have previously pointed out that the porcupine strategy implies using a smaller force to counter a larger one, utilizing the porcupine's quills to deter enemies, similar to the strategic thinking of asymmetric warfare.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also expressed concern at a congressional hearing today about Trump's insinuation that arms sales to Taiwan could become a bargaining chip in negotiations with China.
She said, "Taiwan's security is not a bargaining chip. It is central to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific."
McCaul also stressed the importance of deterrence during the talk. He noted that what the U.S. is trying to do in the Indo-Pacific is to provide deterrence, to make Xi Jinping think twice about whether he really wants to invade Taiwan or implement a blockade. McCaul revealed that a senior executive at TSMC had told him that if such a situation were to occur, TSMC's facilities would be shut down immediately.
On the other hand, he also believes that the U.S. government should explain the importance of Taiwan to the American people. If the American public understood that up to 90% of the world's high-end chips are made in Taiwan, and that a Chinese invasion could lead to their seizure or destruction, public support for helping Taiwan defend itself would increase significantly.
Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, attended a talk today hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to analyze U.S. foreign policy.
In an interview with a CNA reporter after the event, McCaul was asked about Trump's recent comment that the Taiwan arms sale case is a "good bargaining chip." He responded, "I don't think it's good policy to weaken Taiwan's ability to defend itself."
McCaul, who led a delegation to Taiwan in 2024, pointed out that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have always been an established policy, dating back to the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, when the U.S. Congress stated, "We can directly arm Taiwan." He believes Washington should adhere to the spirit of that law.
After the United States severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 as a guideline for the development of U.S.-Taiwan relations. The act stipulates that the U.S. is obligated to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons.
When asked if there might be progress in the short term on the currently pending $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, McCaul said, "I hope so." The more Taiwan's defense capabilities are enhanced through a porcupine strategy, the less likely it is that Xi Jinping will launch an invasion.
Experts have previously pointed out that the porcupine strategy implies using a smaller force to counter a larger one, utilizing the porcupine's quills to deter enemies, similar to the strategic thinking of asymmetric warfare.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also expressed concern at a congressional hearing today about Trump's insinuation that arms sales to Taiwan could become a bargaining chip in negotiations with China.
She said, "Taiwan's security is not a bargaining chip. It is central to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific."
McCaul also stressed the importance of deterrence during the talk. He noted that what the U.S. is trying to do in the Indo-Pacific is to provide deterrence, to make Xi Jinping think twice about whether he really wants to invade Taiwan or implement a blockade. McCaul revealed that a senior executive at TSMC had told him that if such a situation were to occur, TSMC's facilities would be shut down immediately.
On the other hand, he also believes that the U.S. government should explain the importance of Taiwan to the American people. If the American public understood that up to 90% of the world's high-end chips are made in Taiwan, and that a Chinese invasion could lead to their seizure or destruction, public support for helping Taiwan defend itself would increase significantly.