Acting Secretary of the U.S. Navy announced on Thursday that arm sales to Taiwan have been paused to ensure sufficient munitions are available for Iran operations.
Asked about the stalled $14 billion weapons deal with Taiwan during a congressional hearing, Acting Secretary Hung Cao stated that “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 added that once everything is confirmed, foreign military sales will resume when deemed necessary by the administration. The State Department and Pentagon did not immediately comment on her remarks.
President Trump has not committed to proceeding with the sale, raising concerns about his commitment to support Taiwan, a territory claimed by China. Ahead of his recent state visit to China, Trump said he would discuss arms sales with Chinese President Xi Jinping, deviating from Washington’s previous stance that it would not consult Beijing on the matter.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after leaving Beijing on May 15, Trump confirmed Xi had raised the issue but made no commitment either way. He also declined to state whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese attack.
Following his remarks, lawmakers from both parties urged the administration to continue providing arms to Taiwan for deterrence against China’s leader, Chairman Xi. The U.S. approved a record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan in late 2025, but the $14 billion package has been on Trump’s desk for months. Under U.S. law, the country is required to provide weapons to Taiwan for defense despite recognizing only Beijing.
China has vowed to take the island and has not ruled out using force, increasing military pressure in recent years.