Trump's reported pause on Taiwan weapons aid sparks fears he is using island for China trade deal [View all]
Source: The Guardian
Sat 20 Sep 2025 07.48 EDT
Last modified on Sat 20 Sep 2025 07.55 EDT
Donald Trump’s reported pause on $400m (£297m) in weapons aid to Taiwan has fuelled fears he is using US support of the island to negotiate with China. Trump’s pause on weapons provisions, if confirmed, included orders for lethal munitions and autonomous drones, but could still be reversed, the Washington Post reported on Friday.
It came amid US efforts to negotiate a trade deal with China after a long and punishing trade war, and hours before Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping spoke on the phone on Friday. Trump said they had made “productive” progress on issues including trade, fentanyl and TikTok. They also agreed to meet in Korea in October, and for Trump to visit next year.
But analysts noted the respective readouts of the call did not mention Taiwan, Beijing’s most sensitive issue in its foreign relations, particularly with the US. The ruling Chinese Communist party (CCP) plans to annex Taiwan as Chinese territory, by military force if necessary.
Taiwan’s government and people overwhelmingly reject the prospect of CCP rule, and the standoff has prompted an arms buildup on both sides of the Taiwan strait, with much of Taiwan’s stocks coming from the US, Taiwan’s most significant backer in its resistance. “To avoid war and defend peace we must build defence capabilities and societal resilience through continued preparedness,” said Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, on Saturday.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/20/trumps-reported-pause-on-taiwan-weapons-aid-sparks-fears-he-is-using-island-for-china-trade-deal
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