Politics USA: Arms sales to Taiwan "paused"
The US government is not approving a billion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan for the time being.
22.05.2026, 15:19
SDA
"Right now, we're pausing to make sure we have the ammunition we need for Epic Fury," said Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao in a US Senate hearing. The Fox News channel aired his response to a question from Republican Mitch McConnell. The US government refers to its military operation against Iran as "Operation Epic Fury".
"We're just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue as soon as the government deems it necessary," Cao continued, according to The Hill newspaper. The decision ultimately rests with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The sale of armaments worth up to 14 billion US dollars (around 12 billion euros) is at stake. The arms purchase sought by Taiwan is causing tensions between the USA and China. The People's Republic lays claim to the island state, which has been democratically governed for decades. The USA maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and supports the island's defense capabilities - primarily through arms deliveries.
During US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing last week, China's head of state Xi Jinping emphasized that dealing with Taiwan is crucial for the stability of their bilateral relations. Trump, for his part, has recently left the question of arms sales open.
