Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te has called for the United States to approve a $14 billion arms sale package “as soon as possible,” reaffirming that the democratically governed island rejects unification with China.
Lai emphasized that Taiwan’s pursuit of security and democratic governance should not be interpreted as provocative, stating that only the Taiwanese people can determine their future. He reiterated his preference for dialogue based on “parity and respect” with China during remarks to the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Taipei.
The arms sale, currently under review by the US State Department, is seen as critical for Taiwan’s defensive capabilities as China continues to increase military and diplomatic pressure on the island. Washington has also encouraged Taipei to boost defense spending.
A top US military official recently indicated that the sale has been paused to conserve munitions for potential conflicts in other regions, including Iran. Despite this, Taiwan maintains that US commitments under domestic law remain intact.
During the trip to Taipei, Lai also highlighted a proposed $210 million defense package for surveillance and unmanned surface drones, underscoring Taiwan’s efforts to modernize its military capabilities amid evolving regional threats.
