U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday his pending decision on more arms sales to Taiwan could serve as effective leverage in negotiations with China.
He said he was leaving the arms deal, worth $14 billion and already approved by the U.S. Congress, up in the air.
"It depends on China," Trump told broadcaster Fox News. "It's a very good negotiating chip for us frankly. It's a lot of weapons."
Trump had previously said during his return flight from Beijing to the United States that he would make a decision in the near future. He said, however, that he first had to speak to Taiwan about it. The U.S. Congress pre-approved the latest arms deal with Taiwan in January 2025.
China rejects such arms sales because it claims Taiwan for itself even though the island republic has an independent and democratic government.
