[Herald Economy=Reporter Kim Kwang-woo] A senior U.S. military official said the war with Iran had temporarily halted weapons sales to Taiwan, prompting controversy; the White House has rejected that claim.
According to Yonhap, Reuters reported on the 23rd (local time) that a White House official said a decision on the Taiwan weapons package would be announced soon.
The official noted that the Trump administration approved a Taiwan weapons package last year worth US$11 billion (approximately 16.7 trillion KRW) and said, as President Donald Trump has indicated, additional approvals are likely soon.
The official added, “President Trump allowed more weapons sales to Taiwan during his first term than any other president.”
Reuters also quoted another source who said delays in U.S. approvals for arms sales to Taiwan were unrelated to the conflict in Iran.
That source emphasized, “U.S. forces hold sufficient ammunition and weapon stockpiles to achieve and exceed President Trump’s strategic objectives,” adding that arms sales are a multi-year process and not linked to the war in Iran.
The White House denial contradicts comments by Acting Navy Secretary Heng Kao at a congressional hearing on the 21st, when he said plans to sell arms to Taiwan were “temporarily paused to secure munitions needed for the (anti‑Iran) ‘Grand Fury’ operation.”
Heng’s remarks reverberated after U.S. media raised concerns that a protracted Iran war could deplete U.S. missile stocks and a senior military official publicly flagged supply issues.
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are governed by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. In January, Congress advanced a supplemental Taiwan assistance package worth US$14 billion, but the Trump administration has not approved it.
Against this backdrop, following his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Trump said arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a “bargaining chip,” heightening concerns that U.S. security commitments might be weakened.
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