Taiwan’s government on Saturday publicly defended the importance of continued United States weapons sales, arguing that military cooperation between Taipei and Washington remains essential for preserving stability across the Taiwan Strait and deterring growing pressure from China.
The statement came after US President Donald Trump indicated during a visit to Beijing that he had not yet decided whether to approve another major arms package for Taiwan, introducing new uncertainty into one of the most sensitive areas of the already tense relationship between Washington and Beijing.
Trump’s comments followed a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital, where tensions over Taiwan reportedly featured prominently among broader discussions involving trade, technology, regional security and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
While the United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington remains the island’s most important international partner and military supporter. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons to help maintain its security against potential aggression.
China, however, considers democratically governed Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly condemned American arms sales to the island, viewing them as interference in its internal affairs.
The issue has become one of the most dangerous flashpoints in relations between the world’s two largest powers.
Following Trump’s remarks in Beijing, Taiwan moved quickly to reinforce its position publicly, emphasizing that military cooperation with the United States is not only legitimate under American law but also necessary for broader regional security.
Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, said China’s expanding military activities represented the primary source of instability in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to Kuo, Beijing’s actions around Taiwan and throughout nearby waters continue to threaten regional peace and justify closer security cooperation between Taipei and Washington.
She stressed that arms sales between Taiwan and the United States serve as a mutual deterrent against threats in the region and reflect Washington’s longstanding security commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.
Taiwan also expressed appreciation for Trump’s continued support regarding stability in the Taiwan Strait despite the uncertainty surrounding future weapons transfers.
The debate centers largely on a second major arms package reportedly worth around $14 billion that still awaits presidential approval.
The Trump administration previously approved a record-breaking $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan in December, significantly expanding military support for the island amid intensifying tensions with China.
That earlier deal included advanced defense systems intended to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to respond to possible military action from Beijing.
Reuters previously reported that another package had been under consideration, though Trump’s comments in Beijing suggested the White House may now be reconsidering the timing or political implications of approving additional sales.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei on Saturday, Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi declined to discuss details of the pending package because it has not yet been officially announced.
However, Chen said Taiwan would continue communicating closely with the United States in order to better understand Washington’s position and intentions.
The uncertainty surrounding the arms deal comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Taiwan’s government, which has struggled domestically to secure expanded defense funding.
President Lai’s administration has sought to increase military spending significantly in response to China’s growing military pressure and increasingly frequent exercises around the island.
Yet Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament has complicated those efforts by resisting parts of the government’s proposed defense budget.
Earlier this month, lawmakers approved roughly two-thirds of the administration’s requested additional defense funding while specifying that the money should primarily be directed toward purchasing American weapons.
The political battle inside Taiwan reflects growing awareness that the island faces mounting pressure from China as military activity around the Taiwan Strait intensifies.
Chinese warships and aircraft now operate near Taiwan almost daily, with Beijing using military drills and aerial patrols to demonstrate its capacity to isolate or pressure the island if necessary.
China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and continues to reject repeated offers of dialogue from President Lai, whom Beijing labels a separatist.
Taiwanese officials argue that those actions highlight exactly why continued US military support remains essential.
During Trump’s visit to Beijing, China’s military reportedly maintained operations near Taiwan without reduction, underscoring the persistence of tensions even as American and Chinese leaders attempted to stabilize broader relations.
Shen Yu-chung, a deputy minister at Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said Beijing has long relied on military intimidation and political pressure as central elements of its Taiwan strategy.
According to Shen, China seeks to push Taipei toward eventual political concessions by combining military coercion with diplomatic isolation.
Those concerns have become increasingly urgent as analysts warn that the balance of military power across the Taiwan Strait continues to shift in China’s favor.
At the same time, Trump’s remarks in Beijing raised fresh questions regarding the future direction of US policy toward Taiwan.
While speaking with reporters after meeting Xi, Trump appeared to suggest he might discuss the proposed arms package directly with President Lai, saying he would need to speak with “the person” running Taiwan.
The comment immediately drew attention in Taipei because of its potential diplomatic implications.
Asked about the possibility of direct communication between Trump and Lai, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen said Taiwan was still attempting to understand the “true intent” behind the president’s remarks.
Although President Lai’s office avoided directly addressing the issue, a senior Taiwanese security official speaking anonymously suggested Trump’s meaning appeared relatively clear.
“The party with whom arms sales are to be discussed is Taiwan, not Beijing,” the official said.
That remark reflected concern inside Taiwan that Beijing may seek greater influence over future US decisions involving military assistance to the island.
Many Taiwanese officials fear China could attempt to leverage broader negotiations with Washington — including trade or geopolitical cooperation — to pressure the United States into slowing or limiting arms sales.
Despite the uncertainty, bipartisan support for Taiwan remains strong in the United States Congress.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly urged the Trump administration to continue approving military support packages for Taipei, arguing that Taiwan represents a critical democratic partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
American officials increasingly view Taiwan not only as a regional security issue but also as strategically important because of its dominant role in the global semiconductor industry.
Any instability involving Taiwan could therefore carry enormous consequences for international technology supply chains and the global economy.
Analysts in Taiwan suggested Trump may delay approving the latest package until after Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the United States later this year.
Kuo Yu-ren, vice president of Taiwan’s Institute for Policy Research, said the White House may prefer to avoid provoking Beijing before Xi’s expected trip to Washington in late September.
Even so, Taiwan continues to insist that its sovereignty and democratic system are non-negotiable.
President Lai’s office reiterated on Saturday that the Republic of China — Taiwan’s formal name — is already a sovereign and independent democratic country.
Kuo said Beijing’s territorial claims therefore lack legitimacy and cannot alter Taiwan’s political reality.
That position remains fundamentally incompatible with China’s stance, ensuring that tensions across the Taiwan Strait are unlikely to ease anytime soon.
For now, Taiwan appears determined to continue strengthening security cooperation with the United States while simultaneously managing uncertainty surrounding Trump’s evolving approach toward China.
The debate over future weapons sales has therefore become more than a procurement issue. It now represents a broader test of Washington’s long-term commitment to Taiwan at a time when geopolitical competition between the United States and China is reshaping the balance of power across Asia.
