Trump Holds $14 Billion Taiwan Arms Package as China Bargaining Chip

11 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 18

$14 billion in potential U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is being kept in abeyance by President Trump after his Beijing summit, with Trump calling the package a “very good negotiating chip” with China.
Fox News aired the comments after Trump left talks with Xi Jinping on Friday, and Trump said the decision now “depends on China,” without saying what concession he wants in return.
China’s state media and defense ministry quickly seized on the remarks, arguing they showed Taiwan cannot count on unconditional U.S. backing and warning that “security cannot be bought with military purchases.”
The episode hands Beijing fresh material to pressure President Lai Ching-te and Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, while deepening uncertainty over a package that follows $11.1 billion in Taiwan arms sales approved in December 2025.

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