Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo announced Thursday that his government has received written assurance from Washington that a major weapons deal remains on schedule, despite rising tensions between the United States and China ahead of their leaders’ planned meeting.
The weapons package, valued at approximately $14 billion and featuring sophisticated interceptor missiles, awaits final approval from President Trump and could move forward following his scheduled visit to China, according to sources familiar with the discussions reported by Reuters earlier this month.
Trump’s Beijing trip, initially planned for early April, has been delayed until May 14-15 due to the ongoing Iran conflict.
The island nation, which Beijing considers part of its territory, will likely feature prominently in discussions between the two leaders. Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Trump during a phone conversation to handle weapons sales to the democratically-led island with caution.
When questioned by lawmakers about whether the upcoming Trump-Xi summit might affect American arms sales, Koo revealed that his government had already obtained written confirmation of Washington’s commitment to authorize the pending transaction.
“We have also been in close communication with the U.S. Department of War’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency regarding its willingness to provide this to us, including guidance concerning the items, the amount, and the transaction,” Koo stated, declining to provide additional specifics.
According to Koo, the weapons package continues to undergo standard internal review processes within the United States, and Taiwan has not been informed of any postponements.
The State Department, which typically addresses inquiries regarding Taiwan policy, has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Beijing has consistently urged Washington to halt military sales to Taipei. The most recent transaction in December totaled $11 billion, marking the largest arms deal in Taiwan’s history.
Despite the absence of official diplomatic relations, the United States serves as Taiwan’s primary international ally and defense supplier, with legal obligations to ensure the island can maintain its security.
In recent years, Taiwan has encountered increased military pressure from China, including large-scale military exercises near its borders.
