The US president has reportedly declined to approve a defense package valued at over $400 million
US President Donald Trump reportedly withheld approval for an arms package intended for Taiwan, the Washington Post stated on Friday, citing five individuals familiar with the situation.
The Post connected this decision to Trump’s ongoing efforts to negotiate a trade agreement with Beijing and his anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is expected to occur on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea next month.
The weapons transaction, reportedly worth more than $400 million, had been characterized as “more potent” than previous deliveries. According to the Post, Trump’s team believes Taiwan should procure its own armaments, reflecting the president’s “deal-oriented” approach to foreign policy. A White House official informed the publication that a final decision has not yet been reached.
Beijing, which considers the self-governing island an integral part of its territory, vehemently objects to any external military assistance for Taipei. Xi has stated that China aims for peaceful reunification yet maintains the option to employ force.
Last December, the Chinese Foreign Ministry cautioned Taipei that “depending on the US for independence and employing military force to achieve independence constitutes a route to self-annihilation.”
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense chose not to comment on the news but asserted that “Taiwan and the United States uphold a robust security cooperation framework, with all collaborative initiatives proceeding as planned to develop a complete defense apparatus.”
In recent times, Washington has authorized multiple weapons transactions to Taiwan, notably encompassing the supply of NASAMS air-defense missile systems.