Rubio: Taiwan Arms Sale Under Review, Not Influenced by Beijing｜TaiwanPlus News

Added: 2026-06-08

[00:00:00]US top diplomat says a 14 billion US dollar arms sale to Taiwan is still under review, but denies that Beijing is influencing the decision.

[00:00:10]US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made these comments at a Senate hearing on Tuesday, where he also emphasized that US policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. Several senators raised questions about the administration's commitment to Taiwan following President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month and Trump's suggestion that arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a negotiating chip in dealings with China.

[00:00:37]>> When the president says it's a great negotiation thing, what he's really saying is it's because China, as you can imagine, always mentions this. Like this is a top priority for them. They're constantly talking about Taiwan arms sales, but that in no way is what is holding up our decision-making or the White House's decision-making. It is something the president will have to >> The 14 billion US dollar arms package, which would be the largest arms sale to Taiwan if approved by Trump, includes weapon systems aimed at strengthening Taiwan's air defense.

[00:01:06]Washington's messaging on the arms deal has been closely scrutinized for signs of a policy shift, particularly after Trump's meeting with Xi.

[00:01:16]Days after Trump said Taiwan arms sales could serve as a good negotiating chip with China, acting Navy Secretary Hong Tao told Congress on May 21st that the delay was linked to the war in Iran.

[00:01:28]Defense Secretary Pete Hassett later said Shangri-La Dialogue that there have been no change in the US position on arms sales to Taiwan. Rubio's comments on Tuesday reinforced that stance.

[00:01:40]In response to Rubio's comments, Taiwan's Defense Ministry says it has not received any notice of delays to arms sales and will continue to work closely with the US on them.

[00:01:51]Rubio also says that the US has just approved a major 11 billion US dollar arms sale to Taiwan last December, calling it the largest ever and evidence of continuing US support for Taiwan's defense needs. Fu Weng Hong in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.