A senior US military official has said that Washington has temporarily suspended a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan in order to preserve ammunition stocks for a potential conflict with Iran.
According to a report by Al Jazeera, acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao told lawmakers during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on Thursday that the pause is intended to ensure the United States retains sufficient munitions for possible military operations against Iran.
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,” Cao said.
“But we’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.”
Cao added that any decision to proceed with the sale — which would be the largest ever weapons transfer to Taiwan — would be made by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The US Congress approved the weapons package for Taiwan in January, but the sale still requires President Donald Trump’s final approval to move forward. If approved, it would surpass a record $11 billion arms package for Taiwan approved in December.
The reported war with Iran has been paused since a ceasefire agreement on April 8, although a permanent peace deal has yet to be reached.
Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan will continue pursuing arms purchases from the United States, according to Taiwanese media outlet FTV News.
William Yang, a senior analyst for Northeast Asia at the Crisis Group, said in a social media post that the pause could “exacerbate anxiety and scepticism about US support in Taiwan and make it difficult for the Taiwanese government to request additional defence budget for the foreseeable future.
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