WP: Trump Gave Up Military Aid To Taiwan For A Deal With China
- 19.09.2025, 7:35
Details.
US President Donald Trump has refused to approve more than $400 million in military aid to Taiwan this summer. The decision is linked to a deal with China.
It was reported by The Washington Post.
Some five people told the publication that the refusal is linked to Trump's attempt to negotiate a trade deal and a possible summit with Chinese leader Si Jinping.
And some have noted that the decision, which could yet be reversed, marks a U-turn in U.S. policy toward Taiwan, which China considers its territory.
Two sources familiar with the situation said the package would be worth more than $400 million and would be "more lethal" than previous rounds of aid to Taiwan, including ammunition and autonomous drones.
WP added that according to a White House spokesman, a decision on the aid package has not yet been made. Taiwan's embassy in Washington, meanwhile, declined to comment.
U.S. Assistance to Taiwan
The publication notes that the U.S. military has long devoted resources to Taiwan's defense, while China's army has been rapidly building up its forces and conducting increasingly large-scale exercises around the entire island.
U.S. military and intelligence officials say Xi Jinping has instructed his army to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027, although that date is not a deadline for an invasion.
At the same time, WP writes that at a meeting between US and Taiwan defense officials in Anchorage in August, the two sides agreed on a large-scale arms sale.
According to four sources, Taiwan plans to pay for the new arms shipment, which could total billions of dollars. To do so, a bill on additional defense spending, which is now being actively discussed by the island's authorities, will be passed.
The sources also said the package will consist almost exclusively of "asymmetric" equipment such as drones, missiles and sensors to monitor the islands' coasts.
The delivery of such next-generation weapons could take years, however. Taipei is already expecting billions of dollars worth of arms deliveries, including F-16 fighter jets and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
It is known that Taiwan plans to spend 3.3 percent of its GDP on defense next year. The country is set to increase that figure as Trump calls for a benchmark of 10%. In August, President Jingde said the island would pay 5% of GDP by 2030.
As for more military aid, this week the Trump administration informally notified Congress of a possible $500 million arms sale to Taiwan.
While talking about the situation with Taiwan, the Washington Post noted another well-known fact that Trump has repeatedly stated that China will not invade Taiwan while he is in office.