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Taiwan says it has not heard new US arms sales will be carved into smaller chunks
Taiwan says Washington still backs its defense as Trump delays approval of the proposed sale to preserve ties with China.
On Tuesday, Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo stated he had not heard of plans to split the $14 billion arms sale, affirming that Washington's commitments to Taipei's defenses remain unchanged.
President Donald Trump has delayed the $14 billion package to maintain a fragile trade truce with Chinese President Jinping, describing it as a "very good negotiating chip."
Koo noted that Taiwan and the United States "do indeed have close exchanges in the military and defence spheres," following the $11 billion arms package Trump approved in December.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and President Tsai Ing-wen are visiting the United States this week, with the State Department affirming that engagement with Taiwan benefits the international community.
The Chinese in Washington reiterated that it "firmly opposes official interactions of any form between China's Taiwan region and the US," signaling ongoing resistance to Taiwan's diplomatic engagement.