US Navy signals pause in Taiwan arms sale, drawing swift reaction from Beijing
“China’s firm opposition to US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region is consistent, clear and unwavering,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.
Cao was responding to a question about a possible pause at a hearing of the US Senate appropriations subcommittee on defence.
“But we’re just making sure we have everything, then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,” he said.
In Taipei, presidential office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said there was “no information indicating that the US intends to make any adjustments to this arms sale”.
Washington’s arms sales have been one of the thorniest issues in its ties with Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
In an interview with Fox News that aired after his departure from Beijing, Trump said the US$14 billion package awaiting his approval was “a very good negotiating chip” with China.
He also floated the idea of speaking with Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te, a move that would break long-standing diplomatic norms for the US and risk strong pushback from Beijing.
“I’ll speak to him,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday when asked whether he would call Lai before deciding on the arms sales.
“I speak to everybody,” he said, later adding, “We’ll work that, the Taiwan problem.”
According to a report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published last month, the US has burned through 50 to 80 per cent of some key munitions, including its Precision Strike Missiles and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptors.