Experts have cast doubt on claims that a pause in US arms sales to Taiwan is linked to the war in Iran, describing the justification as 'makes no sense'. The comments follow a suggestion by acting US navy secretary Hung Cao that a $14bn weapons package for Taiwan had been paused to ensure sufficient munitions for 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran.
Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, said there was a 'very very low likelihood' of any true connection, noting that the deals under consideration would take three to six years to deliver. 'If he sends those congressional notifications by the end of June, you're talking about another six to 12 months before the contract is signed, and then the clock starts on delivery,' he said.
An unnamed US official told Reuters that the military had 'more than enough munitions' for all strategic goals and that the pause was 'unrelated to the war with Iran'. Peter Mattis, president of the Jamestown Foundation, said Cao's comments were inaccurate, as arms packages already notified to Congress could not be affected by the Iran conflict.
The uncertainty follows President Donald Trump's suggestion that he could use arms sales to Taiwan as a 'negotiating chip' with Beijing, a break from longstanding US policy. Trump also indicated he might speak directly with Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, which would be the first such call since 1979 and would likely anger China.
China claims Taiwan as a breakaway province and strongly opposes US arms sales to the island. President Xi Jinping told Trump in Beijing that Taiwan was 'the most important issue in China-US relations'. Despite this, Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive party said communication channels with the US remain open and smooth.
