Full Breakdown
Taiwan Says U.S. Arms Policy Unchanged as $14 B Deal Remains Stalled
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Koo added that no notification of any change to the sales has been received. The statement comes while a record-size $14 billion weapons package, first announced in 2024, remains on hold after a May summit between President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping. Production of the 66 Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters ordered in 2019 has reached a stage where delivery is possible, but the first two aircraft are still awaiting shipment from Hawaii.
Background & Context
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are governed by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which obligates Washington to provide the island with defensive capabilities despite the absence of formal diplomatic recognition. The $14 billion package, approved by Congress, includes advanced fighter jets, missiles and other systems intended to counter the People’s Liberation Army’s growing air and naval presence. After President Trump’s May meeting with President Xi, the administration placed the deal in abeyance, framing it as leverage in broader U.S.–China talks.
Data & Statistics
- $14 billion – total value of the stalled arms package approved by Congress.
- 66 – number of F-16V fighters ordered in 2019; production now at a delivery-ready stage.
- 2 – F-16Vs reported to be positioned in Hawaii awaiting transport.
- $8.4 billion – amount of U.S. security assistance provided to Taiwan between January 2021 and January 2025, according to the Forum on the Arms Trade.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Waltz also referenced congressional approval of the $14 billion package and the financial commitments already made by Taiwan.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed a similar view at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, stressing the United States’ long-standing commitment to Taiwan’s self-defense under the Taiwan Relations Act.
President Donald Trump, in statements following the May summit, said the $14 billion package was being held as a “bargaining chip” and that any change would require “clear justification.”
Criticism & Opposition
The Chinese government has repeatedly called for an end to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, arguing that such transfers violate the One-China principle. Chinese officials have also denied allegations that China supplied satellite imagery to Iran for a July 17 strike on a U.S. base in Jordan.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the status of congressional approval. Some reports state that Congress has already signed off on the $14 billion deal, while others describe the package as “paused” pending a presidential sign-off.
What’s Next
The situation remains tied to broader U.S.–China diplomatic dynamics, with future summits or high-level meetings likely to influence the pace of the arms package’s implementation.
