US Halts Arms Sales to Taiwan Over Iran War

Acting United States Secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, said that arms sales to Taiwan have been temporarily halted to ensure the American military has enough ammunition for its operations in Iran. The remarks, reported by the national press on Friday 22 May 2026, were made during a U.S. congressional hearing on Thursday 21 May local time. When asked about the US$14 billion arms package that Taiwan has paused, Cao said: ‘At the moment we are temporarily halting sales to ensure we have the ammunition we need for Epic Fury — which we hold in large quantities.’ ‘But we are simply making sure that we have everything, after which foreign military sales will resume when the government deems it necessary,’ he added. The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defence, or the Pentagon, have not yet provided a direct response to Cao’s remarks. Meanwhile, Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the Taiwan Presidential Office, said on Friday that ‘there is no information indicating that the United States intends to adjust any of these weapon sales.’ U.S. President Donald Trump has not committed to continuing the arms sales, raising concerns about his commitment to backing Taiwan, which China claims as part of its sovereignty. Before visiting China, Trump said he would discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with President Xi Jinping — signalling a shift from Washington’s previous stance that insisted it would not consult Beijing on the matter. After the visit, Trump said he had not given Xi any commitment on Taiwan and would decide on the arms sales ‘in the relatively near future.’ The United States recognises China alone, but under its statutory framework Washington is obliged to supply weapons to Taiwan for their defence. Beijing, meanwhile, has vowed to take Taiwan by force and has not ruled out the use of military power. In recent years, China has stepped up its military pressure on Taiwan.