Taiwan's $14 billion arms package from the United States remains stalled, Defense Minister Wellington Koo said on Tuesday, despite ongoing talks between Taipei and Washington. The deal, which includes 66 advanced F16-V fighter jets, was paused after a May summit between President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping, where China pressed the US to halt arms sales to Taiwan, according to fortune.com.
Koo told reporters in Taipei that while the $14 billion deal is on hold, existing US arms sales to Taiwan continue unchanged. He confirmed that the 66 F16-V jets have reached a production stage ready for delivery, although the original 2024 delivery schedule was delayed due to the pandemic and production issues. Koo also said the US assured Taiwan that its policy toward the island remains consistent despite the stalled package.
US arms sales to Taiwan have long been a source of tension with China, which claims the island as its territory. The US does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country but is its largest informal ally and is legally bound to provide defensive arms. The $14 billion deal is one of the largest in recent years and its pause underscores the geopolitical complexities between Washington, Taipei, and Beijing.
The stalled $14 billion arms package includes 66 F16-V fighter jets ready for delivery, with the original timeline pushed back from 2024 due to production delays. Taiwan continues to engage in discussions with the US on arms sales, with no official changes to ongoing cooperation announced as of the latest statement from Defense Minister Wellington Koo.