Navy Chief Says US Has Paused Taiwan Arms Sales

Washington has paused a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan, apparently without informing Taiwan. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told senators on Thursday the US is temporarily holding back the $14 billion arms sale so it can be sure it has enough munitions for "Epic Fury," the US-Israel operation in Iran, the BBC reports. He said the halt is about inventory, saying foreign military sales would resume "when the administration deems necessary." Cao acknowledged he hasn't spoken with Taipei, and Taiwanese officials said Friday that they hadn't been notified about any pause in the planned arms sale, reports the AP.

The move adds fresh uncertainty to a deal that's been awaiting President Trump's sign-off for months and includes PAC-3 air defense missiles and other surface-to-air systems. Trump has publicly called the package "a very good negotiating chip" with Beijing and has not committed to approving it. During their summit in Beijing last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Trump that Taiwan is the top issue in US-China relations.

• Trump said he discussed Taiwan arms sales with Xi, despite a Reagan-era pact that ruled out such discussions. Trump said Xi had raised the issue. "So what am I going to do, say 'I don't want to talk to you about it because I have an agreement that was signed in 1982?" he said. "No, we discussed arms sales."

The US approved a separate $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan late last year. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has said US arms sales are a "key factor in maintaining regional peace and stability," while Beijing has repeatedly denounced such sales and warned they risk intensifying tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Lawmakers from both parties say arms sales to Taiwan should continue, CBS News reports. The US needs to "arm Taiwan so they can defend themselves for deterrence against Chairman Xi," Republican Rep. Michael McCaul said last week.