Taiwan says existing US arms sales unchanged as USD 14 billion package stalls

Taiwan says its existing arms sales and defence cooperation with the United States remain unchanged. The assurance comes even as a USD 14 billion package stays paused amid US-China tensions.Image used for representational purposes onlyBangkok,Sep 29, 2026 13:28 ISTTaiwan's defence minister said on Tuesday that existing US arms sales to the island remain unchanged and that Taipei is still in talks with Washington on individual deals. However, a record USD 14 billion arms package remains stalled amid concern that US President Donald Trump could halt arms sales to Taiwan.The remarks came as China has pressed the United States to stop such sales, most notably during a summit in Beijing in May between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The United States paused the USD 14 billion deal after that meeting, even as Taiwan said it had received assurances that US policy towards the island had not changed."As for arms sales, we are in continuous discussions with the Americans on this," Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo told reporters outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. "We haven't received any notice of any changes to sales or our cooperation." Koo also said he had been assured by the US side that its policy towards Taiwan remained unchanged.Koo said 66 advanced F16-V fighter jets had reached a production stage where they are ready to be delivered. According to local media, the jets were meant to be delivered in 2024, but the project was delayed by the pandemic and production line issues. US arms sales to Taiwan are a major source of tension between Beijing and Washington because China claims the island as its territory. While the US does not formally recognise Taiwan as a country, it is its largest informal ally and is bound by law to ensure that Taiwan can defend itself. Taiwan says it buys arms to defend itself in the event of an invasion by China, whose People's Liberation Army sends fighter jets and ships towards the island almost daily.Analysts said they expect US arms sales to continue, though there may be a short-term pause. "There are two more summits between the US and China scheduled within this year, so I think neither side really wants to break things off, and the Taiwan issue will be put aside temporarily," Tamkang University professor Ma Chun-wei said. However, he added that Taiwan remains important from a security perspective and that "arms sales to Taiwan will still be inevitable going forward." In sum, Taiwan has said there is no change in existing US arms sales or cooperation, even though the larger USD 14 billion package remains on hold. With PTI Inputs- Ends