U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made it clear that the proposed $14 billion arms package for Taiwan remains on track, contrary to reports suggesting it had been paused. During a session with the U.S. Senate, Rubio stated that the package is undergoing a standard review process, which is typical for deals of this magnitude. He highlighted that labeling the package as “paused” is misleading and emphasized that the evaluation is necessary due to the significant implications it holds for U.S. defense production capabilities.
Speculation about potential delays in the arms sale emerged after President Donald Trump reportedly mentioned the package as a possible bargaining chip in conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Further concerns arose following comments from a senior defense official, who indicated that some weapon transfers were under reassessment to ensure that U.S. military stockpiles remain sufficient.
Rubio pointed out that just last December, the U.S. had approved an arms sale to Taiwan worth approximately $11 billion, marking it as the largest in American history. He noted that this decision was met with strong opposition from China, which reacted by increasing military activities near Taiwan.
Reaffirming U.S. policy, Rubio stated that the approach towards Taiwan has not changed and underscored that the U.S. does not seek Beijing’s approval when making arms sale decisions to Taiwan. He stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and ensuring that the status quo is preserved.
While the review of the $14 billion arms package continues, Rubio confirmed that no final decision has been made regarding its approval. The package remains under consideration, with all necessary evaluations being conducted as part of the administrative process.