U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified that a proposed $14 billion arms package for Taiwan is not on hold, but is currently undergoing standard administrative review. Rubio addressed the U.S. Senate, emphasizing that labeling the package as “paused” is inaccurate and underscoring the necessity of the review process due to the package’s significant scale and potential implications for U.S. defense production.
Concerns surrounding the arms deal surfaced after reports suggested that President Donald Trump considered using the package as a bargaining chip in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Further apprehension was raised by comments from a senior U.S. defense official, who indicated that certain weapons transfers were being reassessed to ensure that U.S. military stockpiles remain sufficient.
Rubio highlighted that a previous arms package worth approximately $11 billion was approved for Taiwan in December, marking the largest sale of its kind in U.S. history. This move was met with strong opposition from China, which responded by ramping up military activities near Taiwan. Despite these tensions, Rubio reiterated that U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed and stressed that Washington does not seek Beijing’s input when making decisions about arms sales to Taiwan.
The Secretary of State emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. He reassured that the proposed $14 billion package is still under consideration, with no definitive decision reached at this time. The ongoing review process aims to ensure that the impact on U.S. defense capabilities is carefully evaluated.