Does Iran Conflict Affect US Arms Sales to Taiwan? Expert: Misunderstanding of FMS Process

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 25. Peter Mattis, chairman of the US national security think tank The Jamestown Foundation, stated today that rumors regarding a pause in $14 billion in US arms sales to Taiwan are not directly linked to the conflict in Iran. He noted that foreign military sales (FMS) are not necessarily impacted by the Iran conflict, and such claims likely stem from a lack of understanding of how FMS processes work. DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu hosted an exchange with Mattis on 'US-Taiwan Relations After the Trump-Xi Meeting,' attended by several DPP legislators and military experts. Wang introduced Mattis as a solid friend of Taiwan, citing his background as a former China policy advisor to Senator Marco Rubio and a CIA counterintelligence analyst. Legislator Shen Po-yang, who served as interpreter, emphasized the importance of US think tank research in shaping US policy. Regarding the $14 billion arms sale, Mattis clarified that there is no direct link to the Iran conflict. On Trump's remarks regarding Taiwan, Mattis advised focusing on Trump's consistent stance over time rather than isolated statements, noting that the US role in resisting Chinese coercion remains unchanged.