Republican lawmakers press Trump to honor Taiwan weapons commitments amid China summit
Four Senate Republicans and a bipartisan group of House members sent letters to the White House urging President Trump to proceed with pending arms sales to Taiwan as Chinese President Xi prepares to meet him in Washington.
Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day Washington visit, a quartet of Senate Republicans and a bipartisan coalition of House members wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urging the administration to fulfill its Taiwan arms commitments. The senators highlighted that more than $15 billion in approved aid, including $300 million in foreign military financing and a $1 billion defense obligation, has not been acted upon, and a $14 billion sales package remains on hold.
They also criticized President Trump’s description of Taiwan as a "very good negotiating chip" with China. In a parallel letter, seven representatives commended the record-breaking $11 billion package approved in December and called for additional sales to bolster Taiwan's self-defense, while also urging the release of detained U.S. citizens in China and stronger cooperation on law-enforcement and critical minerals. Both letters warn that abandoning the sales could undermine U.S. credibility and deterrence in the region. State and Defense Department spokespeople did not immediately comment.
Why it matters
The letters signal bipartisan concern that delaying Taiwan weapons sales could weaken U.S. deterrence and influence in the Indo-Pacific.
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