Taiwan presses Washington for billions in weapons as China tensions grow

Taiwan presses Washington for billions in weapons as China tensions grow - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Taiwan’s top diplomat in the United States has issued an urgent plea for American weaponry, asserting the island’s critical need for self-defense capabilities against an escalating threat from Beijing. Alexander Yui Tah-ray, who heads the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., confirmed that Washington’s policy toward the self-governing island, which China claims as its own, remains unchanged despite a stalled $14 billion arms sale package. The proposed arms deal has been in limbo since President Donald Trump’s return from Beijing in May, where he stated he had discussed the proposal "in great detail" with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This revelation sparked considerable anxiety in Taiwan and raised concerns among lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "We need those arms for defensive purposes," Yui told The Associated Press in an interview in Washington. "We’re trying to increase our defense expenditure. We try to increase our ability to defend ourselves better and survive times of crisis." The United States, like most nations, does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent country, as China prohibits any state with diplomatic relations from having formal ties with Taipei. However, the U.S. stands as the island’s strongest informal backer and primary arms provider. Yui, while not formally an ambassador, serves as Taiwan’s chief envoy in Washington. The Trump administration has yet to advance the $14 billion weapons sale proposal, which had received approval from senior lawmakers earlier this year. President Trump previously characterized the sale as a "very good negotiating chip" with China. Washington is legally bound by domestic law to furnish Taiwan with sufficient military hardware to deter aggression from China. Beijing asserts sovereignty over the island and has vowed to seize it, by force if necessary, to achieve what it terms "unification." China has consistently opposed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, an island that has never been under communist Chinese rule. Emphasizing Taiwan’s commitment to its own defense, Yui stated, "This is our responsibility, so we will not wait and depend for the U.S. cavalry to come and save us." He added, "That’s why we’re willing to acquire, to buy U.S. equipment and arms to make ourselves stronger." Yui underscored that the scale of weapons sales must be "commensurate" with the threat level, which he described as "actually pretty high" from China. "First and foremost, we’re not the aggressors. It is the People’s Republic of China who is sending all the planes and ships," he asserted. "They’re the ones huffing and puffing. They are the ones who’s trying to annihilate our freedom and democracy in Taiwan." Indeed, China routinely dispatches warships and military aircraft near Taiwan and has conducted significant military exercises around the island in recent years. Beijing views the island as a core interest and has criticized those supporting Taiwanese independence for fostering instability in the Taiwan Strait. Yui reiterated that there have been no changes to the U.S. position on Taiwan, and that the Taiwanese government respects the Trump administration’s "tempo" for making announcements. The arms sale enjoys broad support in Congress, with lawmakers raising concerns to Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a recent hearing. Rubio affirmed that U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged and that Washington does not "consult with the Chinese on these arms deals." "We’re aware of their position. They talk about it all the time," Rubio said of Beijing. "They are not negotiated, and they are not consulted." He clarified that the proposal was not stalled but under review, with the administration weighing various factors. "It includes the availability of the stocks in the short term," Rubio explained, referencing U.S. weapons stockpiles that have been depleted during the Iran war. "We have to balance that with our own procurement process." Despite the current delay, the administration did approve a separate $11 billion arms sale package to Taiwan in December, which included high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and howitzers. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te told reporters on Thursday that his administration maintains close contact with the U.S., expressing hope that "the arms purchase from the U.S. can be approved as soon as possible." In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian dismissed the notion of Taiwan seeking independence by relying on the U.S. and military means as "a dead end." He reiterated, "China’s opposition to American arms sales to Taiwan is consistent and clear." Yui arrived in Washington in late 2023 during Joe Biden’s presidency, a period when Biden had repeatedly stated he would send troops to the island if Beijing attacked. Now, Yui navigates the complexities of the Trump administration, which has adopted a more conciliatory tone with Beijing following an intense trade war marked by reciprocal tariffs. While President Trump has drawn scrutiny for seemingly disregarding a Reagan-era promise not to proceed with arms sales to Taiwan without prior consultation with Beijing, he also indicated he could call President Lai, breaking a decades-long practice of no direct communication between sitting U.S. presidents and the island’s leader. The Pentagon’s national defense strategy, published in January, outlines a goal to deter China through strength, not confrontation. It states the U.S. "will build, posture, and sustain a strong denial defense" along a strategic line of islands, including Taiwan, to keep China out of the wider Pacific Ocean. Yui attributed what appear to be mixed messages to President Trump’s unconventional style but expressed confidence in Taiwan-U.S. relations. "It’s important to look at the actions, what is happening, not just the rhetoric," Yui concluded. "The big stick is still there." Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments