U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan Face Pause Over Iran Munitions Needs

Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on Thursday that arms sales to Taiwan are currently paused. Cao said the pause is intended to ensure the U.S. military has enough munitions for its operations in Iran, which he referred to as Epic Fury.

"Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury [the Iran war] – which we have plenty," Cao said. Cao added that foreign military sales would continue once the administration determines they are necessary. When asked whether the sales would eventually be approved, Cao said the decision rests with the secretary of state and the Pentagon chief.

Taiwan’s presidential office spokesperson said Friday that Taipei had received no information indicating any adjustment to the pending arms sale. A U.S. source familiar with the matter said arms sales to Taiwan take years to process and are unrelated to the war with Iran.

"These sales take years to process and are unrelated to Operation Epic Fury," the source said. The source also stated that the U.S. military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all strategic goals. The U.S. is bound by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Taiwan has been waiting for approval of a weapons package that could be worth up to $14 billion. President Donald Trump said after meeting China’s President Xi Jinping this month that he was undecided on whether to approve the package.

The U.S. has said its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged since the Trump-Xi meeting. China has repeatedly called for the U.S. to stop arms sales to Taiwan. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.