Taiwan is pressing for continued U.S. military support after President Donald Trump said a decision on a major weapons package for the island has not yet been finalized.
The issue comes after Trump’s high-level summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Taiwan became one of the most sensitive topics in discussions between Washington and Beijing.
Trump said during a recent interview that he may approve the long-delayed arms package, but also left open the possibility that he could decide against moving it forward.
“I may do it. I may not do it,” Trump said when asked about the weapons package.
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Taiwanese officials have continued emphasizing the need for strong defensive capabilities as China increases military pressure around the island.
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and strongly opposes U.S. weapons sales or military assistance to Taipei.
The United States does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country, but Washington has maintained unofficial relations with the island and has provided defense assistance for decades.
Supporters of continued arms support argue that Taiwan needs advanced weapons systems to deter possible aggression from China and maintain stability in the region.
Critics, however, warn that additional arms sales could further inflame tensions with Beijing and complicate efforts to stabilize U.S.-China relations after the summit.
Trump has said his broader goal is to keep both sides calm and avoid a military conflict that could pull the United States into a dangerous confrontation in the Pacific.
The debate over Taiwan’s defense comes as the island remains central to global technology supply chains, especially advanced semiconductor production.
Any conflict involving Taiwan could have major consequences for global markets, military security and the technology industry.
For now, the Trump administration has not announced a final decision on the arms package, leaving Taipei, Beijing and U.S. lawmakers watching closely for the next move.
Taiwan pressed its case for US arms supplies, saying they serve as a shared deterrent to regional threats, after President Trump said he had not decided on future sales https://t.co/doafRgQOp3 pic.twitter.com/7p9swNH9Wt
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 16, 2026
