Taiwan Diplomat Urges US to Proceed with $14 Billion Arms Sale as China Threat Grows

Taiwan's top diplomat in Washington has stressed the island's urgent need for American weapons to strengthen its self-defense capabilities against an increasingly assertive China. Alexander Yui Tah-ray, who heads the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, said in an interview that Taiwan must acquire U.S. military equipment to bolster its defenses, emphasizing that the threat level from Beijing is "actually pretty high."

A proposed $14 billion arms sale package to Taiwan remains stalled following President Donald Trump's May visit to Beijing, where he indicated he had discussed the proposal "in great detail" with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump has previously characterized the sale as a "very good negotiating chip" with China, creating uncertainty about whether the sale will proceed. The Trump administration has not moved forward with the package despite its earlier approval by senior lawmakers, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed to Congress this month that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed and that Washington does not consult with China on such sales.

Yui stressed Taiwan's resolve to take responsibility for its own defense rather than rely solely on external support. "We will not wait and depend for the U.S. cavalry to come and save us," he said, explaining that Taiwan is willing to acquire U.S. equipment to strengthen itself. He emphasized that Taiwan is not the aggressor, pointing to China's sustained military pressure, which includes the deployment of warships and military aircraft near the island on an almost daily basis.

China views Taiwan as a core interest and has criticized supporters of Taiwanese independence. Washington is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons to deter Chinese aggression, as the island has never been under communist rule despite Beijing's claims of sovereignty. An administration official indicated that the review of the proposed sale involves multiple factors, including the availability of U.S. weapons stockpiles, which have been depleted due to commitments elsewhere. The administration did approve a separate $11 billion arms package to Taiwan in December that included HIMARS and howitzers.