Senator Wicker urges U.S. to honor Taiwan defense commitments amid stalled aid

Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters that Washington must fulfill its security obligations to Taiwan following a discussion with the island's U.S. envoy Alexander Yui on September 29. He cited recent calls from four other Republican senators urging the administration to unlock over $15 billion in held national-security aid. Wicker reminded that the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act obligates the United States to provide Taiwan with defensive capabilities, and that Congress has already authorized additional resources for training and arms sales.

He warned that these authorities should be used as intended to counter what he described as rising Chinese aggression. The statement came as President Donald Trump recently kept a $14 billion weapons package on hold after a meeting with President Xi, though he later said Xi understood the U.S. position. Taiwan’s defence minister affirmed that U.S. policy toward the island remains unchanged.