Trump Delays Selling Weapons to Taiwan, China Asks US to Be Careful about Taipei

JAKARTA - The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it still opposed the sale of weapons by the United States to Taiwan even though the activity was currently suspended due to the Iran war.

"China's opposition to the sale of US weapons to the Taiwan region is consistent, clear, and firm," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press conference in Beijing, reported by ANTARA, Saturday, May 23.

Based on reports, the US announced a delay in the sale of weapons worth 14 billion US dollars (about Rp248 trillion) to Taiwan because the war with Iran is still ongoing.

US President Donald Trump indicated that the delay in selling weapons to Taiwan was for the reason of making it a "negotiating tool" with China.

"I haven't agreed to it yet. We'll see what happens. I might do it (sell weapons to Taiwan). I might not do it either," Trump told Fox News.

After a visit to China on May 13-15, Trump said he had discussed the issue in detail with Chinese President Xi Jinping, before deciding in the near future on the sale.

Guo Jiakun also said China still does not approve of any official exchanges between the US and the Taiwan region.

"China urges the US to implement the important common understanding between the two leaders of China and the US, respect its commitments and statements, be cautious in handling the Taiwan issue, stop sending wrong messages to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces, and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as the momentum of stable development of China-US relations with concrete actions," said Guo Jiakun.

The US has been known for decades to abide by the "Six Assurances", six foreign policy principles that govern US-Taiwan relations since 1982 during the era of President Ronald Reagan, one of whose deals stated that the US did not consult with China regarding the sale of weapons to Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao explained that the decision to delay the sale of weapons to Taiwan would be made by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Cao stressed that the American military still has enough missiles and interceptor systems, despite the spotlight on reports that US ammunition supplies are dwindling.

"Currently, we are temporarily stopping (the sale of weapons to Taiwan) to ensure we have enough ammunition for the Epic Fury operation; we actually have a lot (of weapons), but we are just making sure we have everything," said Minister Cao in a Senate Committee Meeting, Thursday (21/5).

Although Cao stressed that the US military's ammunition stockpiles were still sufficient, various reports said that the American military had used thousands of missiles since the Iran war began on February 28.

The use is said to have consumed nearly half of the Pentagon's stock of long-range stealth cruise missiles, as well as reducing the reserves of Tomahawk missiles, Patriot interceptor missiles, Precision Strike missiles, and ATACMS ground-based missiles.

The White House is reportedly planning to request an additional $80-10 billion (around Rp1.7 trillion) in funds from Congress for the Iran war.