US says Trump will soon decide on weapons for Taiwan — The Japan Times

In the United States, Taiwan’s representative Alexander Yui said he expects President Donald Trump to approve an additional sale of US weapons to Taiwan. The package is worth $14 billion, and Taiwan has been waiting for it for some time. As The Japan Times reports, air defense systems could make up a significant part of the proposed package.

Yui acknowledged that the decision could have been made sooner, but expressed confidence that the United States understands the threats Taiwan faces and will provide the necessary equipment. According to him, Washington has clearly stated that US policy toward Taiwan has not changed.

A decision is expected soon

A senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump would make a decision on the package within a fairly short timeframe. He did not specify a schedule. Earlier, the US president had repeatedly said he would resolve the issue “soon.”

Uncertainty over the deliveries has intensified amid Trump’s contacts with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump previously called arms sales to Taiwan “a very good bargaining chip” in relations with Beijing. Yui said Taiwan’s goal is to prevent the issue of the island from becoming the subject of agreements between the United States and China.

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Washington’s position

The US official also recalled that Trump approved record arms sales to Taiwan worth $11 billion in December. US House Speaker Mike Johnson called Taiwan an important partner, friend and ally of the United States, linking the delay in the new package to other events, including those in the Middle East.

Additional concern was prompted by remarks from US Ambassador to China David Perdue, who said Trump had asked Xi Jinping whether he would like to buy US weapons. Trump denied this account, while a State Department spokesperson said US law prohibits arms sales to China and that there is neither a proposal nor a plan for such deliveries.

The United States maintains unofficial relations with Taipei and supplies it with defensive weapons. The “one China” policy recognizes Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China, while Washington acknowledges but does not endorse the PRC’s position regarding Taiwan’s status.