Navy's acting secretary says Taiwan arms sale put on "pause" over Iran war
The U.S. Navy's acting secretary announced that a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan is currently on hold due to the need for munitions for operations in Iran. This pause is intended to ensure that the U.S. military has adequate supplies before proceeding with foreign military sales. Concerns have been raised regarding President Trump's commitment to supporting Taiwan amidst increasing military pressure from China.
- ▪The acting secretary of the U.S. Navy stated that arms sales to Taiwan have been paused to prioritize munitions for Iran operations.
- ▪President Trump has not made a commitment regarding the arms sale to Taiwan, raising concerns about U.S. support for the island.
- ▪The U.S. is legally required to provide weapons to Taiwan for its defense, despite recognizing only Beijing.
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Politics Navy's acting secretary says $14 billion Taiwan arms sale put on "pause" over Iran war May 21, 2026 / 11:41 PM EDT / CBS/AFP Add CBS News on Google The acting secretary of the U.S. Navy said Thursday that arm sales to Taiwan had been put on "pause" to ensure that the American military had sufficient munitions for its Iran operations. Asked at a congressional hearing about the stalled $14 billion weapons purchase by Taiwan, Acting Secretary Hung Cao said that "right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury — which we have plenty." "But, we're just making sure we have everything, then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary." The State Department and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to…
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