Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said the US understands Taiwan’s defence needs and the severe military threat from China. A proposed $14 billion US arms package is still awaiting President Donald Trump’s approval after he put it in abeyance in May.
Trump has not discussed the package since last week’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping; on Saturday, he said only that Xi understood his position on Taiwan. US Ambassador to China David Perdue said Friday that Trump’s Taiwan policy, including arms sales, had not changed. Chen said Taiwan had repeatedly received the same assurance. Chen also cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comment that military sales require careful consideration.
US law requires Washington to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, while China has repeatedly called for an end to military sales. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory; Taiwan rejects that claim and says only its people can decide the island’s future.
