A possible delay in the planned summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this month has raised concerns about a pending record US arms sale to Taiwan, though officials in Taipei insist the deal remains on track.
Reuters reported on Friday that the US$14 billion arms package – possibly the largest ever for Taiwan – was ready for the US president’s approval and could be announced after his visit to Beijing.
The package is expected to include advanced air-defence systems such as Patriot PAC-3 missiles and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System or Nasams, as well as an added US$6 billion in “asymmetric” capabilities.
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However, uncertainty is growing after Trump said on Monday that he had asked Beijing to delay the summit – originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2 – by “a month or so” because of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Taiwan’s defence minister, Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, sought to reassure the public on Tuesday, saying Taipei had not received any indication of a sales delay.
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