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. ...
4 months 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...
4 months 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...
4 months 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.
4 months 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.
4 months 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...
4 months agoThe U.S. temporarily paused weapons sales to Taiwan to ensure munitions are ready for potential Iran escalation, acting Navy Secretary Cao testified.
4 months agoBeijing reaffirmed its opposition to arms sales to Taiwan after the acting secretary of the US Navy said Washington was pausing a US$14 billion weapons purchase by the self-governed island. “China’s firm opposition to US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region is consistent, clear and unwavering,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday. On Thursday, acting US Navy head Hung Cao told a congressional hearing that “right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions...
4 months agoThe acting US Navy secretary said Thursday that arm sales to Taiwan had been put on "pause" to ensure that the American military had sufficient munitions for its Iran operations. Asked at a congressional hearing about the stalled $14 billion weapons purchase by Taiwan, acting secretary Hung Cao said that "right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury -- which we have plenty." Ahead of his recent state visit to China, Donald Trump said he would speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the arms sales, a departure from Washington's previous insistence that it will not consult Beijing on the matter.
4 months agoHung Cao’s comments are latest blow to Taipei after Donald Trump recently cast doubt over US’s enduring supportUS arms sales to Taiwan have been “paused” to ensure the US military has enough munitions for its Iran operations, according to Washington’s acting navy secretary, in the latest blow to Taipei after a series of comments by Donald Trump.When asked at a congressional hearing on Thursday about a $14bn (£10.4bn) weapons packageawaiting Trump’s signoff for months, Hung Cao said: “Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury [the Iran war] – which we have plenty.” Continue reading...
4 months agoThe acting US Navy secretary said Thursday that arms sales to Taiwan had been put on “pause” to ensure that the American military had sufficient munitions for its Iran operations. Asked at a congressional hearing about the stalled $14 billion weapons purchase by Taiwan, Acting Secretary Hung Cao said that “right now, we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury — which we have plenty.” “But, we’re just making sure we have everything, then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.” The US State Department and […]...Keep on reading: US Navy official says Taiwan arms sales on 'pause' over Iran war
4 months agoUS acting navy chief Hung Cao told a Senate hearing they were "doing a pause" on the sale to make sure they had munitions for the Iran war.
4 months agoThe U.S. is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. China has repeatedly called for the U.S. to stop arms sales
4 months agoThe acting US Navy secretary said Thursday that arm sales to Taiwan had been put on “pause” to ensure that the American military had sufficient munitions for its Iran operations. Asked at a congressional hearing about the stalled US$14 billion weapons purchase by Taiwan, acting secretary Hung Cao said that “right now we’re doing a […]
4 months agoActing Navy Secretary Hung Cao's remarks come as US President Donald Trump gives mixed signals on the sale.
4 months agoThe acting secretary of the U.S. Navy said Thursday that arm sales to Taiwan had been put on "pause" to ensure that the American military had sufficient munitions for its Iran operations.
4 months agoThe stalled US$14 billion weapons purchase aims to ensure the US military has sufficient munitions for Operation Epic Fury.
4 months agoUS navy official says arm sales to Taiwan put on 'pause', citing war on Iran The acting US navy secretary said that arm sales to Taiwan has been put on hold to ensura that the military has enough weapons for operations in Iran. During a congressional hearing regarding the stalled $14 billion weapons purchase by Taiwan, Hung Cao said that Washington is "doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury - which we have plenty". "But, we're just making sure we have everything, then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary," he added.
4 months agoActing Navy Secretary Hung Cao said Thursday the U.S. is pausing a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan because of the Trump administration’s war with Iran. Speaking during a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing, Cao insisted the U.S. still had "plenty" of missiles and interceptors, even as scrutiny grows over America's dwindling munitions stockpiles. “Right...
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