Nikkei: Trump 2.0's Approved Arms Sales to Taiwan Nearly 40% Higher Than Biden's

Nikkei Asia reported that the total value of US arms sales to Taiwan approved by President Donald Trump's second-term administration in its first 18 months is 36% higher than the total approved by former President Joe Biden's administration over four years.

The report said the increase in approved arms sales under Trump 2.0 comes amid growing concerns that Washington's support for Taipei could be reduced as part of a broader agreement with Beijing.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers at a congressional hearing on the 3rd that a $14 billion arms sale package to Taiwan is still under review.

President Trump, after a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, said the pending $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan was a good bargaining chip.

This remark heightened fears that US support for Taiwan could face a substantial realignment as part of a broader deal with Beijing, but Rubio dismissed this view.

Rubio emphasized that China's wishes would never be allowed to interfere with White House decisions on arms sales to Taiwan.

According to data from the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, the total value of arms sales to Taiwan approved during the Biden administration's four-year term was $8.4 billion.

In contrast, the total value of arms sales to Taiwan approved by the first Trump administration was approximately $18.3 billion, the highest for any modern US administration.

The Trump 2.0 administration approved $11.4 billion in arms sales to Taiwan last December. If the additional $14 billion package mentioned by Rubio is approved, the total approved by Trump 2.0 would reach approximately $25 billion.

Edward Owen, a senior policy analyst at the Asia Studies Center of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank close to the Trump administration, expressed confidence the sale would be approved by the end of the year. Others are skeptical.

Trump has invited Xi to visit the White House on September 24. Both sides hope to hold up to three summits by the end of the year. Xi has repeatedly urged Trump to stop arms sales to Taiwan.

If the Trump administration proceeds with a new round of arms sales, China is likely to react strongly, potentially affecting future summit plans.

Xi's visit to the White House is scheduled about a month before the US midterm elections on November 3. Trump is eager to reach an economic deal with China that he can showcase to domestic voters.

Any move that might anger Xi could complicate these efforts, making any decision on additional arms sales to Taiwan particularly significant.

According to tracking data from George Mason University, as of April, the total value of weapons approved for sale to Taiwan but not yet delivered reached $29.7 billion.

Similar delivery delays are also affecting US arms shipments to allies worldwide, including Japan. (Editor: Liu Shuqin) 1150605