Washington still considering arms sale, Trump says

President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington continues to deliberate on a proposed US$14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed that the administration is "looking at that" and plans to discuss the matter with President William Lai.

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We’re looking at that. Yeah. We’re looking at that.

Trump's remarks follow his previous statement after a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where he suggested a decision on the new arms package for Taiwan would be made soon. When asked about speaking with Lai, Trump responded affirmatively, stating, "I’ll always talk to him."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided further context on the proposed sale, stating at a congressional hearing that the package has not been "paused" but is proceeding through the review process. Rubio emphasized that the sale requires careful consideration due to its significant scale and its potential implications for the US defense industry and production capacity.

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I’ll always talk to him.

Rubio also reiterated that Washington does not consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan, affirming that US policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. President Lai has previously stated that if given the opportunity to speak with Trump, he would stress the necessity of improving Taiwan's defense capabilities and purchasing US weapons to safeguard national security and maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait.

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The package had not been “paused,” but was continuing through the review process.

The proposed arms package remains under review within the US administration, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic and strategic considerations surrounding US-Taiwan security cooperation.

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The proposed sale is significant in scale, and would have implications for the US defense industry and its production capacity, requiring careful consideration.