Taiwan has not been notified of a pause in U.S. arms sales, after acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao revealed it during congressional testimony.During his Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on Thursday, Cao said the nation’s shipment of weapons to the island will be temporarily paused as the war with Iran continues.“We have done some foreign military sales to them,” he told lawmakers. “It’s just right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury — which we have plenty.
“But we’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,” Cao said, adding that War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would decide whether to approve arms sales to Taiwan in the future.
On Friday, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Presidential Office said at a press conference that Cao’s remarks were noted but that “we have not received any relevant information about the U.S. adjusting these military sales.”
China is very much opposed to the United States providing military support to Taiwan in case Beijing decides to invade the territory. Despite their friendly relations, the U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation.
