Amanze Chinonye
Taiwan is pressing Washington to advance a long-delayed arms package worth about $14 billion, with Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu saying continued U.S. support for the island’s defence and semiconductor industry also serves American interests.
Wu spoke after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a three-day Washington summit on Friday, where Taiwan was among the contentious issues but no major public breakthrough was announced.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“Maintaining military sales, giving Taiwan sufficient capability to defend itself so it does not have to live under Chinese rule and allowing Taiwan’s semiconductor industry to continue contributing to the world, these are important U.S. interests,” Wu told reporters in Taipei.
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Taiwan is a major producer of advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence and other technologies. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China and has repeatedly called on Washington to halt arms sales to Taipei, while Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
The Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, which Reuters reported was the largest such sale approved for the island. A second package, estimated at about $14 billion, has remained pending. Trump said after meeting Xi in Beijing in May that he was holding the package in abeyance, describing it as a negotiating tool.
Wu said Taipei was monitoring the possibility of further delays while continuing discussions with Washington and preparing for its defence needs.
Trump has not publicly announced a decision on the pending package following his latest meeting with Xi. U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said on Friday that there had been no change in Trump’s Taiwan policy, including Washington’s commitments under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which provides the legal framework for U.S. defence support to Taiwan.
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China Warns US Against Aiding Taiwan’s Independence, Calls It ‘Playing With Fire’
China’s state-run People’s Daily said on Saturday that Taiwan was central to Beijing’s interests and a fundamental issue in China-U.S. relations. Xi told Trump during the summit that Washington should maintain what Beijing calls the “correct position” of opposing Taiwan independence.
The delay has also drawn attention from U.S. defence companies. Anduril founder Palmer Luckey said last week that the hold-up was affecting his company’s business in Taiwan.
Taiwan has expanded its domestic defence programme to include submarines, fighter aircraft, missiles and drones, while its defence ministry said it would maintain close contact with Washington to advance approved arms sales.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
