Overview

• The Washington Post reports that Trump refused this summer to approve a Taiwan military assistance package exceeding $400 million that included advanced drones and powerful munitions.
• Sources link the move to efforts to secure a large trade agreement and a potential summit with Xi Jinping, though officials say the issue remains under active review.
• Congress authorizes up to roughly $1 billion in Taiwan assistance each year, and the administration separately notified lawmakers of a possible $500 million arms sale.
• Policy signals have been mixed, with some meetings with Taiwanese officials canceled while other defense transactions were advanced.
• Taipei has signed a major weapons contract and plans to lift defense spending to about 3.3% of GDP next year and to 5% by 2030 to bolster its own procurement.