Lai Seeks Continued US Arms Sales as Trump Weighs New $14 Billion Taiwan Package
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 20
Lai Seeks Continued US Arms Sales as Trump Weighs New $14 Billion Taiwan Package
18 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 20
Lai Ching-te said he would urge Donald Trump to keep selling Taiwan U.S. weapons, calling arms purchases essential to peace as he marked two years in office.
China’s military pressure drove Taiwan to raise defense spending, Lai said, arguing that “only strength can bring peace” and that no country has the right to annex Taiwan.
The appeal comes after Trump approved an $11 billion Taiwan arms package in December and said a new $14 billion sale would depend on China, calling it a negotiating chip.
Beijing rejected Lai’s stance, with Chinese officials condemning U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and accusing him of pushing independence under the guise of peace.
Lai also unveiled a $3.1 billion plan to upgrade small businesses and traditional industries, broadening his midterm message beyond cross-strait security.
Is America's long-standing policy of 'strategic ambiguity' collapsing, leaving Taiwan to fend for itself against a rising China?
With US forces redeployed, is Taiwan's 'hellscape' strategy a final gamble on fighting a potential invasion alone?
Trump’s Taiwan Gamble: The $14 Billion Arms Sale, Strategic Ambiguity, and Rising U.S.-China Tensions
Overview
After President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing in May 2026, he initially avoided discussing Taiwan, which temporarily eased concerns in Taipei. However, his later statements linked U.S. support for Taiwan, especially arms sales, directly to trade negotiations with China, calling these sales a 'bargaining chip.' This shift alarmed Taiwan, which relies on consistent U.S. support for its defense, and drew criticism from U.S. lawmakers who want arms sales kept separate from trade talks. The situation highlights growing uncertainty in U.S.-Taiwan-China relations, with Taiwan's security and regional stability now more vulnerable to changes in U.S. policy.