News

Top Democrats press Trump to approve arms sale to Taiwan ahead of Xi meeting

Comments:

by Sylvan Lane - 05/13/26 6:00 AM ET

Comments:

Link copied

by Sylvan Lane - 05/13/26 6:00 AM ET

Comments:

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

The top House Democrats on key national security committee pressed President Trump to approve the delayed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan ahead of his visit to China and meeting with the country’s President Xi Jinping.

“Delays of Congressionally approved arms sales to Taiwan undercut the maintenance of effective cross-Strait deterrence, and even the possibility of the PRC unduly influencing the United States’ Taiwan policy undermines the spirit of both the TRA and the Six Assurances.” the lawmakers wrote in a 2-page letter to the president on Tuesday, which was first shared with The Hill.

The so-called Six Assurances is a set of six nonbinding U.S. policy assurances agreed to in 1982 during the Reagan administration. The second states that the U.S. will not consult China on arms sales to Taiwan.

The letter was signed by Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna (Calif.), the ranking member on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Jim Himes (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Adam Smith (Wash.), the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee and Greg Meeks (N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

On Monday, Trump told reporters that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan will be on the agenda, among other major topics, during his trip to China.

“I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi. President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion. That’s one of the many things I’ll be talking about,” the president said.

The $14 billion weapons package, which reportedly includes interceptor missiles for Patriot launchers, a missile-based air-defense system and anti-drone equipment, is expected to be delayed after Trump’s meeting with Xi, regional experts previously told The Hill.

Congress greenlighted the sale in January, but the package cannot move forward until the president formally transmits in to Congress.

U.S. weapons packages to Taiwan have been a sensitive topic as Trump looks to have a successful meeting with XI and amid China’s aggressive stance toward Taiwan, with Beijing performing military exercises near the island in recent months.

In December, the Trump administration approved a $11 billion package to Taiwan, which included Javelin antitank missiles, HIMARS rocket systems and howitzers.

The House Democrats urged Trump in the letter to “affirm the Administration’s commitment to the One-China Policy, as based on the TRA, Three Joint Communiqués and Six Assurances” and to oppose any Chinese attempt to “dictate U.S. policy toward” Taiwan.

The letter also comes as the Taiwanese parliament approved a $25 billion special defense budget last week in order to purchase missiles, drones and other weaponry, but still far below the $40 billion mark the government pushed for.

Other Capitol Hill lawmakers have also asked Trump to move forward with the arms sale ahead of his trip to China. A bipartisan group of senators asked the White House to proceed with the weapons package.

“Just as Taiwan’s leaders demonstrated unity in support of their people’s defense, so too must we move ahead with pending U.S. arms sales vital to our own national interests,” senators wrote in the 2-page letter. “You should make clear to Beijing that as you seek to level the economic playing field, American support for Taiwan is not up for negotiation.”

Add as preferred source on Google