Overview

• The Washington Post reports that President Trump refused to approve a $400 million military aid package for Taiwan as U.S.–China negotiations continue over trade and technology, including TikTok.
• A White House official told the Post the hold on the package has not been finalized.
• Trump is described as opposing the transfer of weapons without financial reciprocation, a stance contrasted with more than $2 billion in Taiwan assistance approved under President Biden.
• U.S. and Taiwanese defense officials met in Anchorage in August to discuss potential arms sales worth several billions of dollars, including drones, missiles, and coastal surveillance sensors.
• Taipei is accelerating defense planning with a proposed extraordinary budget that could reach €28 billion, reflecting concern over Chinese military pressure and uncertainty about U.S. support.