A group of bipartisan US senators has called on President Donald Trump to move forward with a $14 billion arms deal for Taiwan before his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. They emphasized that reducing American support for Taipei could embolden Beijing and disrupt the Indo-Pacific region. The senators, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Thom Tillis, urged the administration to inform Congress about the arms sale package, which was pre-approved in January 2025.
Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has sanctioned a significant defense budget of $25 billion to enhance its self-defense capabilities in response to increasing military pressure from China. The senators highlighted that a substantial portion of this defense spending would be allocated to US-supplied defensive weapons, including counter-drone assets, an integrated battle command system, and medium-range munitions.
In their letter, the senators advised President Trump against using Taiwan as a bargaining chip in trade or geopolitical negotiations with Xi. They stressed the importance of maintaining unwavering American support for Taiwan while addressing economic disparities with China. The bipartisan group of lawmakers emphasized that the proposed arms package, featuring drones, anti-ship missiles, radar systems, and mines, aims to deter a Chinese invasion by making it economically unfeasible.
The senators underscored the critical role of Taiwan’s defense partnership with the US in preventing potential Chinese military aggression that could lead to a global conflict. They commended Taiwan’s leaders for standing firm against Beijing’s pressures and urged the US government to exhibit similar determination in finalizing the arms sales crucial to national security interests. The lawmakers also warned of the economic repercussions for American households in the event of a Chinese incursion into Taiwan, predicting severe inflation, supply chain disruptions, job losses, and increased living costs.
Tensions between the US and China persist over various issues, including trade, technology policies, military activities in the Taiwan Strait, and strategic influence in the Indo-Pacific region. China’s longstanding claim over Taiwan as a renegade province, with the intention to reunify it by force if necessary, remains a contentious point in the US-China relationship.
