Washington: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a proposed US$14 billion arms sale to Taiwan is under review, not paused, as the United States continues to maintain its policy towards Taiwan. Rubio clarified during a U.S. Senate hearing that the arms package is still being processed within the administration.

According to Focus Taiwan, concerns about the arms sale arose after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly referred to it as a “good bargaining chip” before a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. This raised questions about Washington’s commitment to Taiwan. In a report published on May 21, The Hill cited U.S. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, who indicated that the package was being withheld to ensure sufficient munitions for ongoing operations with Iran.

Rubio emphasized that the proposed package is significant in scale, with implications for the U.S. defense industrial base, necessitating careful review. He also recalled the Trump administration’s approval of an arms package
worth approximately US$11 billion for Taiwan in December, marking the largest such sale to Taiwan in U.S. history. Beijing responded aggressively at that time, sending military aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

Rubio noted that China frequently raises the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, but Washington does not consult Beijing on these decisions. He reiterated that this approach is consistent with long-standing U.S. policies, which remain unchanged. Rubio concluded by affirming the importance of protecting the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.