President Donald Trump is reportedly planning a phone call with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te to discuss a potential $14 billion arms sale that would shatter records for US military support to the island. If approved, it would represent the single largest American weapons package Taiwan has ever received.
The deal and the delay
Trump has been characteristically blunt about his approach. He has stated publicly that he hasn’t yet signed off on the sale, telling reporters, “I may do it, I may not do it.”
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has urged Trump to “stay the course” on the arms sale. Taiwan’s entire defense strategy is built on the assumption that Washington will continue supplying the weapons it needs to deter a potential Chinese invasion.
Back in December, the Trump administration had already approved $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan. So the $14 billion package under discussion now would come on top of an already substantial commitment.
