A senior U.S. military official's comments about a temporary halt to arms sales to Taiwan due to the Iran war prompted a swift denial from the White House.
According to Yonhap News on May 23, Reuters reported that a White House official indicated a decision regarding a Taiwan arms package would be made soon. The official clarified that the delay in approving arms sales to Taiwan is not related to the Iran conflict.
The official referenced the Trump administration's approval of a $11 billion arms package for Taiwan last year, stating, "As President Trump has indicated, additional approvals will be forthcoming soon."
The official emphasized, "President Trump allowed more arms sales to Taiwan than any other president during his first term."
Another source cited by Reuters also stated that the delay in arms sales to Taiwan is unrelated to Iran. This source noted, "The U.S. military has sufficient ammunition and weapon stockpiles to carry out President Trump's strategic objectives," adding that the arms sales process typically takes years, making any connection to the Iran war inappropriate.
This response effectively counters remarks made by Acting Secretary of the Navy Hong Kao during a congressional hearing on May 21, where he mentioned that arms sales to Taiwan were temporarily halted to secure military supplies needed for the ongoing "Great Fury" operation against Iran.
Kao's comments sparked controversy amid concerns raised by U.S. media about potential missile stock shortages due to the prolonged Iran conflict, particularly as a senior military official directly addressed supply issues.
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are governed by the Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in 1979. In January, Congress proposed an additional $14 billion support package for Taiwan, but the Trump administration has yet to grant final approval.
Meanwhile, concerns have arisen regarding the potential weakening of U.S. security commitments to Taiwan after President Trump referred to arms sales as a "bargaining chip" following his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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