May 22, 2026 | Burma Independent Voice
The Acting U.S. Secretary of the Navy disclosed on Thursday that arms sales to Taiwan have been “temporarily suspended” to ensure the U.S. military maintains adequate ammunition stockpiles for its operations against Iran.
When questioned during a congressional hearing regarding a pending $14 billion arms deal with Taiwan, Acting Navy Secretary Hong Chung replied, “We have temporarily paused things right now to make sure we have all the ammunition we need for Operation Epic Fury, though we actually still have plenty of arms.”
He further added, “But we’re just making sure we have everything, and then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.” The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the remarks.
In response to the U.S. naval official’s statement, Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo stated on Friday, “At present, we have not received any information indicating that the U.S. intends to make changes to the current military sales program.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has stopped short of explicitly pledging to proceed with the planned weapons deliveries to Taiwan. This has fueled growing anxieties regarding Trump’s commitment to defending the self-governed island against Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory.
Prior to his recent state visit to China, President Trump mentioned that he intended to discuss the Taiwan arms sales issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This marked a notable shift from Washington’s long-standing position of refusing to negotiate the matter with Beijing.
Following the conclusion of his trip, Trump stated that he made no specific promises to President Xi regarding Taiwan and noted that a decision on the arms sales package would be finalized “in the near future.”
Although the United States officially recognizes only the government in Beijing, it remains legally bound under U.S. law to provide the democratic island of Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
For its part, China has vowed to bring Taiwan under its control, refusing to rule out the use of military force and steadily ramping up military pressure around the island in recent years.
