China-Taiwan Relations

US: Pausing arms sales to Taiwan – due to Iran war

The US is pausing its arms sales to Taiwan due to the war in Iran. This is what US acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told AFP.

According to Cao, it is to ensure that the US has enough ammunition for the operation in Iran.

– We are just ensuring that we have everything in place, and then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems it necessary, he said in a congressional hearing on Thursday evening.

Last week, President Donald Trump was in China where he promised the country's President Xi Jinping to discuss arms sales to Taiwan. TT writes that this has raised concerns about US support for Taiwan.

Neither the Pentagon nor the State Department have commented on Cao's statement.

Taiwan: No news about paused arms sales

Taiwan has not received any news that the US is pausing its arms deals with the country, writes Reuters.

Karen Kuo, a spokesperson for the Taiwanese presidential office, told the news agency that she had noted the information in the media.

– However, we have not received any relevant information at this time that the United States would adjust the arms sales.

In a congressional hearing on Thursday evening, US acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said that the United States is pausing arms sales to Taiwan to ensure that there are enough weapons for the Iran war.

Cao's statement has not been confirmed by the White House or the Pentagon but comes just a week after Donald Trump's state visit to China.

China has repeatedly called on the United States to stop selling arms to Taiwan.