US Arms Sale to Taiwan: White House Reaffirms Trump Will Decide Shortly

(CNA, Washington, May 22) US media reported that Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated the US is pausing a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. The White House responded to CNA today, reaffirming that, as President Trump stated, he will make a decision on the new arms sale to Taiwan shortly. The Hill reported yesterday that Cao testified at a Senate hearing that the US is pausing the $14 billion sale due to the war between the Trump administration and Iran. A White House official responded via email, reiterating: "As President Trump said, he will make a decision on the new arms sale to Taiwan in a short period of time." The official noted that Trump approved $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan last December, which is "consistent with US policy since the 1950s." The official added that Trump approved more arms sales to Taiwan in his first term than any other president, and in his second term, the total approved in the first year has already exceeded the four-year total of the Biden administration. According to the hearing video, Senator Mitch McConnell asked about the pause, and Cao replied that the US is currently in a "pause phase" to ensure sufficient ammunition for "Operation Epic Fury." Cao stated: "While we have sufficient inventory, we just want to ensure everything is foolproof. When the government deems it necessary, foreign military sales will continue." According to the US-Taiwan Business Council, total arms sales by administration are: Clinton $8.702B, Bush $15.614B, Obama $13.962B, Trump 1.0 $182.78B, Biden $83.77B, and Trump 2.0 to date $114.35B.