Trump leaves Taiwan weapons sales unresolved after Xi summit

Donald Trump left the future of U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan unresolved after his summit with Xi Jinping, saying he made “no commitment either way” on the issue and declining to say whether Washington would defend Taiwan if China attacked.

Trump said he and Xi “talked a lot about Taiwan” and confirmed that Xi raised the U.S. arms sale. The remarks turned an already sensitive file into a fresh test of strategic ambiguity: in Taipei, where officials have been leaning on Washington’s security guarantees; in Beijing, where the Chinese leadership has long pressed the White House to slow military support; and on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers from both parties have treated Taiwan as a core U.S. security interest.

The uncertainty matters because Congress approved a delayed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan in January 2025, but the package had remained under internal review for months ahead of the summit. Eight senators, Jeanne Shaheen, Thom Tillis, Chris Coons, John Curtis, Tammy Duckworth, Jacky Rosen, Andy Kim and Elissa Slotkin, urged Trump on May 11 to formally notify Congress of the package before meeting Xi. They pointed to Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, which approved a $25 billion special defense budget the same day, saying much of it would help pay for U.S.-provided defensive systems including counter-drone assets, an integrated battle command system and medium-range munitions.

The reaction in Washington was immediate. Rep. Michael McCaul said the United States must “arm Taiwan so they can defend themselves,” while Rep. Gregory Meeks said Taiwan needs what it needs to defend itself and that Xi has leverage over Trump but not over Congress or the American people. The split underscores the political pressure now surrounding any presidential hesitation on Taiwan, especially when even a delay can be read in the region as a shift in U.S. deterrence.

Taipei had been told in late March by defense minister Wellington Koo that the next U.S. arms sale package was on track after Taiwan received a letter of guarantee from Washington. Reuters later reported that the package was worth about $14 billion and included advanced interceptor missiles. Beijing, meanwhile, has kept up its opposition to U.S. arms sales and warned Washington to handle the issue with “extreme caution,” keeping the Taiwan Strait one of the most dangerous flashpoints in U.S.-China relations.