Experts have cast doubt on a US official's claim that a pause in a $14bn arms package to Taiwan is linked to the conflict with Iran. The acting US navy secretary, Hung Cao, told a congressional hearing that shipments were halted to ensure munitions for 'Operation Epic Fury', but analysts say the explanation is unconvincing.
Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, described the justification as 'makes no sense', noting that deliveries for such packages typically take three to six years. He added that the weapons awaiting Donald Trump's approval would not be delivered until the 2030s, making any link to the Iran conflict unlikely.
The $14bn deal has been pending since Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month. Trump has suggested he could use arms sales to Taiwan as a 'negotiating chip' with Beijing, a move that would break longstanding US policy. China claims Taiwan as a breakaway province and opposes the sales.
An unnamed US official later told Reuters that the pause was 'unrelated to the war with Iran', and that the military has sufficient stockpiles for all strategic goals. Another expert, Peter Mattis of the Jamestown Foundation, said the Iran conflict could not affect approved arms packages, and that Cao may have misspoken.
Taiwanese lawmakers have sought to reassure the public that communication channels with the US remain open. The controversy comes amid broader uncertainty over US support for Taiwan, including Trump's suggestion he might speak directly with Taiwan's president, which would break decades of diplomatic protocol.
