All articles tagged with #arms sales
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby has pressed for a Beijing invitation to discuss defense priorities, but China has not invited him, citing anger over the U.S. 11-billion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan and broader tensions, underscoring the fragility of high-level U.S.-China defense exchanges while Colby seeks a platform to shape strategy.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged ‘drama-free’, transactional U.S.-China ties and avoided mentioning Taiwan, signaling a notable shift from prior, more forceful rhetoric. He praised allies’ defense spending and suggested fast-tracking arms sales to major spenders, while sidelining Taiwan and the South China Sea. The speech reflects a broader U.S. recalibration of China policy amid a paused arms sale to Taiwan and a shift in strategic framing away from China as the top threat in some defense benchmarks.
During a state visit, Japan and the Philippines pressed to deepen defense ties and explore arms sales, signaling Tokyo’s aim to deter China and bolster Manila’s security posture in the Indo-Pacific.
Washington has paused arms sales to Taiwan to ensure it has enough munitions for its Iran operations, with a $14 billion package awaiting presidential sign-off and future approvals to be decided by senior administration officials. Taiwan says it has heard nothing about adjustments to the deal, while Beijing opposes arms transfers as US-China tensions rise after Trump–Xi talks, and Trump has described the packages as a potential negotiating chip.
US President Donald Trump said he would speak with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te about a possible arms sale, a marked break from diplomatic protocol that could affect US‑China‑Taiwan dynamics as Taipei ramps up its defence. Washington is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act to provide defensive weapons, while Beijing protests official exchanges with Taiwan.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, marking his second anniversary in office, said he would tell Donald Trump that Taipei hopes to continue buying arms from the United States, arguing U.S. arms sales are essential to peace and deterrence in the region.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te urged the Trump administration to continue arms sales to Taiwan to bolster regional peace as Beijing increases its military pressure; Lai credited U.S. arms and security cooperation as essential, even as Trump said he may delay a $14 billion sale as a negotiating chip after a Xi Jinping summit. U.S. officials stressed policy hasn’t changed, while Beijing warns against Taiwan independence, underscoring ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and wider U.S.-China relationship.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te underscored expanded U.S. arms purchases and stronger security ties in response to Trump’s remarks, signaling Taipei’s push for greater defense support from Washington.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said there is 'no change' in U.S. policy toward Taiwan and attempted to walk back President Trump's remarks about delaying a $14 billion arms sale, noting the timing and details would come from the president. Trump had suggested he hasn’t approved the sale and could use it as a bargaining chip with China, comments that could raise questions about adherence to the Six Assurances and the Taiwan Relations Act. Lawmakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson stressed support for Taiwan, while a December arms package had already been approved.
Trump said in a Fox News interview that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are a “very good negotiating chip” with China, a claim that alarms Taipei about becoming a bargaining tool even as Washington maintains its legal duty to help defend Taiwan. China warned of clashes and Xi Jinping urged careful handling, while Taiwan sought to reassure that U.S. policy remains unchanged. The president also floated moving Taiwan’s chip production to the United States, aligning with a broader reshoring push that includes major investments by TSMC in Arizona.
After a three-day summit intended to steady U.S.-China relations, President Trump said he has not decided whether to move forward with a major arms package for Taiwan, noting Xi Jinping raised concerns and reiterated China’s opposition to Taiwan independence. The discussion touches the 1982 Six Assurances, which govern U.S. arms sales to Taipei, and Trump floated the idea of a trilateral nuclear pact with the U.S. and Russia. Any Taiwan arms sale would still need to be sent to Congress, while the talks also touched on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz as key regional issues.
The State Department approved $8.6 billion in arms sales to Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, fast-tracked under an emergency designation that bypasses Congress. The package includes APKWS munitions for Israel and Gulf partners, Kuwait’s upgraded battle command systems, and Qatar’s APKWS plus Patriot restocks, reflecting heightened defense needs as regional stockpiles run low amid the Israel–Iran conflict. The move follows earlier arms deals and underscores ongoing concerns about U.S. inventories and readiness for future conflicts.
Senate Democrats pushed non-binding resolutions to block Israeli arms transfers after anger over Gaza fighting and the broader Iran conflict; a bulldozer-blocking measure drew about 40 Democratic votes, while a 1,000-pound bombs measure failed 36–63. High-profile supporters included Cory Booker, Mark Kelly, and Ruben Gallego; several party leaders, including Schumer, opposed the measures, underscoring growing unease within the party about U.S. arms support for Israel.
Trump said he is discussing possible arms sales to Taiwan with Xi Jinping, a remark that alarms Taipei and fuels debate over whether Washington would consult Beijing, potentially signaling a shift from decades of policy and testing the long-standing framework anchored by the Taiwan Relations Act, Three Communiques and the Six Assurances.
Xi warned Trump to handle arms sales to Taiwan with prudence, saying the Taiwan question is the core issue in China–US relations; Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te countered that US ties are rock solid, while Washington pushes a large arms package to Taiwan and Trump called the call excellent, with discussions also touching on Ukraine, Iran, and trade.