President Lai: U.S. Security Commitment to Taiwan Remains Unchanged; Expects Smooth Approval of Arms Sales

President Lai Ching-te stated today that for Taiwan, purchasing arms from the United States is not merely about acquiring military hardware, but also about sending a vital strategic signal to the international community: Taiwan is determined to safeguard its national security and is willing to share the responsibility of regional defense.

During his first tea session with international media since taking office, the President addressed questions regarding the progress of approximately $14 billion in pending U.S. arms sales. He confirmed that the U.S. security commitment to Taiwan remains unchanged, and both sides share the goal of accelerating the enhancement of Taiwan's self-defense capabilities.

President Lai emphasized a dual-track defense strategy: international procurement and domestic defense autonomy are equally important. He stressed that Taiwan’s direction in strengthening its defenses must not shift, nor its pace slow down. The government will maintain close contact with the U.S. to ensure the timely approval of procurement projects.

Responding to concerns about whether the U.S. might halt sales, Lai noted that current information indicates U.S. policy remains consistent. He pointed out that Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio has emphasized in congressional hearings that the current batch of arms sales is under review rather than stopped. Furthermore, citing that the Trump administration approved $18 billion in sales during its first term, Lai expressed high expectations that subsequent items will be approved following detailed U.S. government review to ensure regional peace and stability.