No Update on Potential U.S. $14 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan: Presidential Spokesperson

Taipei: Taiwan has not received any information about possible adjustments to a potential US$14 billion arms sale package that U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering, a spokesperson for Taiwan's Presidential Office said Friday.According to Focus Taiwan, U.S. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao informed a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing that Washington was withholding the package to ensure it had sufficient munitions for its ongoing war with Iran. Cao mentioned, "Right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury -- which we have plenty." When queried by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell about the likelihood of the sale's approval, Cao stated that the decision would be up to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo noted that the office had acknowledged reports of the pause but had not received any information regarding possible adjustments to the sale. Cao's s tatements appeared to contradict Trump's comments last week where he indicated that he was still deliberating whether to approve the package, describing it as a "very good negotiating chip" in ongoing U.S. trade talks with China. Trump also mentioned that the sale would "depend on China."Taiwan has been anticipating the arms package since foreign media first reported on it in February. The package reportedly includes PAC-3 MSE interceptors and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), among other weapons systems. Since his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing last week, Trump has twice mentioned he would discuss the arms sale with President Lai Ching-te.When asked about a potential call between Trump and Lai, Kuo stated that the public would be informed of any developments. She refrained from further commenting on the $14 billion sale but highlighted that the "biggest problem" facing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan was the ongoing legislative review of funding for five items in a s eparate package approved by Washington in December 2025. Kuo expressed hope that the Legislature would approve the funding soon and that the review process would not be "unnecessarily" affected.