Taiwan urges continued US arms support

Taiwan’s government on Saturday defended continued arms purchases from the United States, saying the weapons sales are backed by American law and are necessary to deter growing regional threats, following remarks by US President Donald Trump questioning future military sales to the island.

The comments came after Trump said during his visit to China that he had not yet decided whether to approve a major new arms package for Taiwan. His remarks created uncertainty over Washington’s future military support for Taipei.

In response, spokesperson Karen Kuo for Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said China’s increasing military activity remains the main destabilising factor in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly around the Taiwan Strait.

New details emerge in Anmol alias Pinky drug case

Kuo stated that arms sales between Taiwan and the United States are consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, which requires Washington to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

She added that the military cooperation also serves as a shared deterrent against regional security threats. Taiwan, she said, remains committed to deepening cooperation with the United States on defence and regional stability.

Reports indicate that the Trump administration previously approved a record arms package worth $11 billion for Taiwan, while another proposed package valued at approximately $14bn is still awaiting final approval.

Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said the government would continue engaging with Washington to better understand the status of the proposed deal. However, he declined to comment directly on the pending package because details have not yet been officially released.

Meanwhile, China has continued military operations near Taiwan, maintaining pressure on the self-governed island. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has repeatedly warned against foreign military support for Taipei.

Analysts say uncertainty surrounding future US arms sales could affect regional security calculations amid growing tensions between China and Taiwan.