Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao says the United States has placed a proposed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan on “pause.” Speaking at a Senate or congressional hearing, Cao links the decision to munitions planning for ongoing U.S. operations against Iran, saying the Pentagon is ensuring it has sufficient missile and interceptor stockpiles for its campaign related to “Epic Fury.” He adds that the pause is meant to complete checks and that foreign military sales would continue once the administration determines it is appropriate. Several outlets report the comments came amid broader political signals from President Donald Trump, which are described as mixed by some coverage. Taiwan’s position is mentioned in one report, which says Taiwan has not received information from the United States about the pause. China reacts by reiterating its opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, with Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson saying its stance is unwavering. The reporting overall indicates the pause is tied to U.S. munitions availability for Iran operations rather than a formal cancellation, while the pause’s timing and communication with Taiwan remain points of uncertainty.
US acting Navy chief says $14bn Taiwan arms sale paused over munitions needs for Iran war
Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao says the United States has placed a proposed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan on “pause.” Speaking at a Senate or congressional hearing, Cao links the decision to mu...
- Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao says U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are on a “pause.”
- Cao links the pause to ensuring U.S. munitions are available for operations against Iran, including a campaign described as “Epic Fury.”
- The Taiwan deal discussed is widely reported as worth about $14 billion and is described as proposed or stalled, not cancelled.
- Some reporting says Taiwan has not received information from the U.S. about the pause.
- China reiterates opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan following Cao’s comments.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday pushed back against a statement from a U.S. military official that the Iran war has delayed a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told senators last week that the U.S. was holding off on the deal in order to preserve America’s dwindling munitions stockpiles. ...
1 week agoWhile approval is due soon for $14bn deal, actual deliveries to Taiwan are years away – making ‘Operation Epic Fury’ in the Gulf an unlikely causeThe Trump administration’s war against Iran should have no impact on arms sales to Taiwan, experts have said, after a US official suggested a pause in the delivery of a key weapons package was due to the Gulf conflict.Analysts told the Guardian that a $14bn arms package left in limbo after Donald Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping could take up to six years to process, and there was a “low likelihood” of any true connection between events in Iran and weapons delivery to Taiwan. Continue reading...
1 week agoActing Navy Secretary Hung Cao’s insistence this week that the Pentagon had paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan over a munitions review has undercut the Trump administration’s narrative on both Iran and Taipei. Cao on Thursday told Senate appropriators that while the U.S. has “plenty” of missiles and interceptors, the Trump administration is holding off...
2 weeks agoActing U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate panel hearing that arms sales to Taiwan were paused to make sure the U.S. had the munitions needed for the war in Iran.
2 weeks agoUS pauses $14bn Taiwan arms sale amid Iran war, navy says The United States has put a proposed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan on hold to preserve munitions needed for its ongoing military campaign against Iran, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate hearing. Cao said the pause was intended to ensure the US military had sufficient weapons stockpiles for Operation Epic Fury, the campaign against Iran. “Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury,” Cao said. The decision comes weeks after Taiwan’s arms purchases were reportedly discussed during talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
2 weeks agoTaiwan’s authorities haven't been notified of a hold on a planned $14 billion U.S. arms sale to Taipei, a government official said Friday, even as acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao a day prior said some foreign military sales were being paused because of the Iran war. Speaking to reporters in Taipei on Friday, Taiwanese...
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