As China tensions loom, US temporarily pauses Taiwan weapons sales due to Iran war, acting Navy secretary says
The United States has temporarily paused weapons sales to Taiwan in order to ensure readiness for a potential escalation in Iran, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao testified to the Senate...
By Fox News · Fox News
The United States has temporarily paused weapons sales to Taiwan in order to ensure readiness for a potential escalation in Iran, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao testified to the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee on Tuesday. "I have not heard, I have not spoken to the Taiwanese. However, we have done some military, foreign military sales to them. And it's just, right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury, which we have plenty, but we're just making sure we have everything," Cao testified. When asked by Sen. Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., if sales would be resumed at any point, Cao replied, "That would be up to the secretary of war and the secretary of state, sir." "Well, that's really distressing," McConnell responded. TRUMP RALLIES DEFENSE TITANS TO SURGE WEAPONS OUTPUT AS IRAN WAR RAGES Cao did also add that "the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary." His testimony came a week after President Donald Trump's state visit to China, where Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of Taiwan as a red-line issue. "President Xi stressed to President Trump that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a statement after Trump and Xi's bilateral meeting. BEHIND SUMMIT SMILES, XI GIVES BLUNT WARNING TO TRUMP OF 'CLASHES' AND 'CONFLICTS' Congress pre-approved a $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan in January, though Trump has yet to formally notify the package, a key step in approving the delivery to Taiwan. Though a bipartisan group of lawmakers urged him to do so before his China visit, Trump withheld his stamp of approval, leaving the armament deal in limbo. During an interview with…