Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Congress on Thursday that American arms sales to Taiwan are currently on “pause” due to the ongoing Iran conflict, raising questions about the timeline for a proposed $14 billion weapons package for Taipei.
The pause follows an approximately $11 billion package approved by President Donald Trump last year and is described by Cao as necessary to ensure sufficient munitions for the administration’s military operation against Iran, which it designates as “Epic Fury.”
Cao stated that once required supplies are secured, foreign military sales to Taiwan will resume at the administration’s discretion.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions over Taiwan following President Trump’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last week. During their discussions, Xi warned of the risk of conflict if U.S. actions regarding Taiwan were mishandled.
On his return flight from China, Trump indicated he had made “no commitment” on Taiwan and was still weighing whether to approve the next arms package.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has been advocating for strengthened defenses and increased military spending, efforts supported by the Trump administration. However, Beijing has consistently opposed official U.S.-Taiwan engagement.
Karen Kuo, a spokesperson for Taiwan’s presidential office, confirmed there have been no updates from Washington regarding changes to the proposed sale, emphasizing that Taiwan’s priority is ensuring parliamentary approval for its special defense budget.
The U.S. arms backlog to Taiwan was estimated at over $20 billion in late 2025 due to limited production capacity among defense contractors.
A senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation questioned the significance of Cao’s remarks, noting that the Navy Secretary position typically does not convey such information and that long-term contracts for future deliveries have little relation to current wartime operations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijing’s opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, stating: “The Chinese side firmly opposes the U.S. selling arms to the Taiwan region. Our stance has been consistent and firm.”
