China Responds to Temporary Halt in US Arms Sales to Taiwan
Beijing — The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it continues to oppose arms sales by the United States to Taiwan, even though such activity has been temporarily halted because of the Iran conflict.
“China’s opposition to arms sales from the United States to the Taiwan region is consistent, clear, and firm,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a briefing in Beijing on Friday (22 May).
According to reports, Washington announced the suspension of weapons sales worth $14 billion to Taiwan as the war with Iran continues.
US President Donald Trump indicated the postponement of arms sales to Taiwan to use as a “bargaining chip” with China.
“I have not approved it. We will see what happens. I may do it (sell arms to Taiwan). I may not do it,” Trump told Fox News.
After a visit to China from 13-15 May, Trump said he had discussed the issue in detail with Chinese President Xi Jinping, before deciding in the near future on the sale.
Guo Jiakun also said China does not approve of any formal exchanges between the US and Taiwan.
“China urges the US to implement the important mutual understanding between the leaders of China and the United States, to honour its commitments and statements, to proceed cautiously in handling the Taiwan issue, to stop sending the wrong signals to the separatist forces of ‘Taiwan independence’, and to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the momentum for stable China-US relations through concrete actions,” Guo Jiakun said.
The US has for decades adhered to the “Six Assurances”, six principles of foreign policy governing the US-Taiwan relationship since 1982 under President Ronald Reagan, one of which stated that the US does not consult with China regarding arms sales to Taiwan.
Meanwhile, Acting United States Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao explained that the decision to suspend arms sales to Taiwan would be taken by US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Cao stressed that the American military still has enough missiles and intercept systems, despite reports of dwindling ammunition stocks.
“At present, we are temporarily suspending arms sales to Taiwan to ensure we have enough ammunition for Epic Fury operations; we actually have plenty of weapons, but we are just ensuring we have them all,” Cao said during a Senate committee hearing on Thursday (21 May).
Although Cao emphasised that US ammunition stocks remain adequate, various reports say the US military has been using thousands of missiles since the Iran war began on 28 February.
The use of these missiles is said to have depleted nearly half of the Pentagon’s long-range stealth cruise missiles, and has reduced stocks of Tomahawk missiles, Patriot interceptors, Precision Strike missiles, and ATACMS ground-based missiles.
The White House is said to be planning to request additional funding from Congress of around $80–100 billion for the Iran war.