U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly declined to approve a $400 million military aid package for Taiwan, according to The Washington Post.
The package, which includes advanced munitions and autonomous drones, was considered more lethal than previous aid rounds.
The decision comes amid ongoing trade negotiations with China and ahead of a potential summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A White House official noted that the decision on the aid package is not yet final.
Under former President Joe Biden, Washington approved more than $2 billion in military aid packages for Taiwan. Critics, including former Pentagon officials and Republican lawmakers, have expressed concern that reducing military support could embolden China, which is reportedly preparing for a potential takeover of Taiwan by 2027.
Trump’s administration appears to prefer arms sales over direct aid, given Taiwan’s strong economy and plans to fund major defense purchases through additional defense spending. Despite the paused aid, discussions on new arms sales including asymmetric equipment like drones and missiles continue between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. Taiwan aims to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to speak on Friday, marking their second call since Trump returned to the White House. The talks are expected to cover compromises on tariffs and negotiations over the video-sharing app TikTok.