US Pauses $14bn Taiwan Arms Sale Due to Iran War
The United States is pausing a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan to ensure sufficient munitions for its ongoing military operations in Iran, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed at a Senate hearing on Thursday, in a move that could signal a significant shift in US policy toward the self-governing island.
According to Al Jazeera, Cao told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense that the pause is necessary to conserve weapons for “Operation Epic Fury” — the joint US-Israel military campaign against Iran that began on February 28. “Right now, we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury — which we have plenty,” Cao said. “We’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.”
Context and Background
The arms package, valued at approximately $14 billion (¥140 billion), would be the largest-ever US weapons transfer to Taiwan if approved. The US Congress approved the package in January 2026, but it requires President Donald Trump’s sign-off to move forward. It would surpass a record-breaking $11 billion arms package for Taiwan that Trump approved in December 2025.
Cao stated that any decision to proceed with the sale would ultimately rest with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The BBC reported that when asked what he had heard from Taiwanese officials about the pause, Cao said he had “not spoken to the Taiwanese.”
Mixed Signals from the White House
The announcement comes amid contradictory signals from President Trump, who discussed the arms sale “in great detail” with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit in Beijing on May 14-15. Speaking to Fox News after the summit, Trump characterized the arms package as a “very good negotiating chip” with China and said he “may” or “may not” approve it.
According to the New York Times Chinese, Trump told Fox News: “I’m putting this decision on hold, it depends on China.” He also said he would consider speaking directly with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te about the deal — a move that would break with four decades of diplomatic protocol and almost certainly provoke an angry response from Beijing.
Trump’s comments on Taiwan’s status have also drawn attention. “I don’t want to see anyone go independent, and then, you know, we have to go 9,500 miles away to fight,” he told Fox News, echoing Beijing’s narrative that Taiwan’s pursuit of independence could trigger a conflict.
Reactions from Beijing and Taipei
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded firmly on May 21-22, reiterating Beijing’s longstanding opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan. As reported by China News Service, Guo stated: “China firmly opposes US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region. This position is consistent, clear, and firm.” He urged the US to implement the consensus reached at the Trump-Xi summit and stop sending “wrong signals” to separatist forces.
Taiwan’s response has been measured but concerned. Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai told reporters on Friday that Taiwan would continue to pursue arms purchases. However, a spokesperson for Taiwan’s presidential office stated they had not received any official notification about “US adjustments to the arms sale,” according to the BBC.
Analysis: Implications for Regional Stability
The pause creates significant uncertainty about US security commitments in the Indo-Pacific. William Yang, senior analyst for northeast Asia at the Crisis Group, said the pause will “exacerbate anxiety and scepticism about US support in Taiwan and make it difficult for the Taiwanese government to request additional defence budget for the foreseeable future.”
For Beijing, the development represents a propaganda victory. Chinese state media has used Trump’s comments to argue that Taiwan cannot rely on US protection. The pause also gives China time to increase military pressure on Taiwan without immediate US arms transfers to the island.
For Washington, the decision reflects the strain that the Iran war has placed on US military resources. While a ceasefire was agreed with Iran on April 8, no permanent peace deal has been reached, leaving the status of US munitions stockpiles uncertain.
What to Watch For
Several key questions remain unanswered. How long will the pause last? Will Trump ultimately approve the sale, and what conditions might he attach? Will he follow through on his stated intention to speak directly with Taiwan’s President Lai, breaking decades of diplomatic convention?
The answers will have profound implications not only for Taiwan’s defense posture but also for US credibility with allies across the Indo-Pacific region who are watching closely to see whether Washington’s commitments can withstand competing military priorities.