US Pauses $14 Billion Taiwan Arms Sale as Iran War Drains Munitions
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 22
US Pauses $14 Billion Taiwan Arms Sale as Iran War Drains Munitions
5 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 22
$14 billion in planned arms for Taiwan has been put on hold while Washington preserves munitions for Operation Epic Fury, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told senators.
Cao said the foreign military sale could resume later, but only after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and ultimately President Donald Trump decide supplies are sufficient.
The package, approved by Congress in January, would be the largest US weapons transfer to Taiwan and top the $11 billion sale Trump approved in December.
Taiwan said it will keep pursuing arms purchases, while analysts warned the pause could deepen doubts about US backing and complicate Taipei's push for higher defense spending.
The delay lands after Trump discussed the sale with Xi Jinping and suggested it could be a negotiating chip, testing long-standing US practice of not consulting Beijing on Taiwan arms deals.
As the US onshores chip production, is Taiwan's 'silicon shield' becoming a bargaining chip?
Is the war in Iran forcing America to trade Taiwan’s security for leverage in the Middle East?
Caught between superpowers, what independent path can Taiwan forge to guarantee its own survival?
The $14 Billion Pause: U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan Delayed Amid Munitions Depletion and Rising China Tensions
Overview
In May 2026, the U.S. paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, a move that broke with decades of policy set by the 'Six Assurances' and signaled a shift in American strategy. President Trump’s openness to discussing the sale with China’s President Xi marked a major departure from past practice, raising doubts about U.S. commitment to Taiwan’s defense. This decision came as U.S. munitions stockpiles were depleted by recent conflicts, forcing tough choices about resource allocation. The pause heightened Taiwan’s vulnerability, increased China’s leverage, and sparked concern among U.S. allies about America’s reliability.