Experts have questioned the Trump administration’s suggestion that the war against Iran is behind a pause in arms sales to Taiwan. Acting US navy secretary Hung Cao told a congressional hearing that the pause was necessary to ensure munitions were available for ‘Operation Epic Fury’ in the Gulf.
However, analysts say the $14bn (£11bn) weapons package is years away from delivery, making any link to the Iran conflict unlikely. Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, said there was a ‘very low likelihood’ of a true connection, noting that such deals take three to six years to deliver.
An unnamed US official later told Reuters the military had ‘more than enough munitions’ and that the pause was ‘unrelated to the war with Iran’. The comments have fuelled uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to Taiwan, further stirred by President Trump’s suggestion he could use arms sales as a bargaining chip with Beijing.
Trump’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping drew attention to the Taiwan issue, which Xi described as ‘the most important issue in China-US relations’. Trump has also floated a possible phone call with Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, which would break decades of diplomatic protocol.
Taiwanese lawmakers held a press conference on Monday to reaffirm communication channels with the US. Peter Mattis, president of the Jamestown Foundation, dismissed Cao’s explanation as ‘somebody misspeaking’, insisting that already-notified arms packages cannot be affected by the Iran conflict.
