U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to send a proposed $14 billion arms package for Taiwan to Congress in the near term, according to senior Republican lawmaker Michael McCaul. The reported plan points to a major new round of U.S. military support for Taipei.
McCaul also indicated that Washington's arms sales to Taiwan would continue regardless of the broader U.S. relationship with Beijing. His comments suggest that Taiwan security policy is being treated separately from efforts to manage ties with China.
Any large Taiwan arms package sent to Congress would draw close attention in both Washington and the Asia-Pacific region. U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan are regularly watched as a measure of American backing for the self-ruled island and of the administration's approach to cross-strait tensions.
The expected submission has not yet been formally delivered to Congress based on the available report, but McCaul's remarks indicate movement could come soon. If it proceeds, the Taiwan arms package would likely become an important issue in U.S.-China relations as well as in congressional debate over regional security.
