Kuomintang Legislator Hong Mengkai asked about the suspension of U.S.-Taiwan arms sales and worries about Taiwan's bargaining chip during the Sichuan-Xi meeting
Quick Look
- KMT legislator Hong Mengkai was concerned about the suspension of US$14 billion in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during the Legislative Yuan inquiry, and worried that Taiwan might become a bargaining chip in the U.S.-China leaders’ talks.
- Executive President Zhuo Rongtai and Defense Minister Gu Lixiong both stated that U.S.-Taiwan relations are stable, arms sales are still under review and implemented as planned, and the United States has not changed its arms sales plans to Taiwan.
- Hong Mengkai asked whether the government had expressed its protest to the United States and asked President Lai Qingde to convene a national security meeting.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan involve US$11 billion and US$14 billion, and the Legislative Yuan has passed a special budget of 780 billion yuan to support them. Recent media reports indicate that arms sales may be delayed due to negotiations between the United States and China.
During the questioning today (6th), Kuomintang legislator Hong Mengkai expressed concern about the suspension of US$14 billion in arms sales to Taiwan by the United States, and worried that Taiwan would become a bargaining chip in the "Trump-Xi meeting". Executive Director Zhuo Rongtai said that the relationship between the United States and Taiwan has been stable for a long time, and the Trump-Xi meeting was always paid attention to before, during and after the meeting. Nothing unexpected happened, and the arms sales that have occurred or will occur are being implemented as planned. Defense Minister Gu Lixiong pointed out that the U.S. side stated that arms sales to Taiwan are still under review. We respect the U.S. review process. The U.S. Department of War has repeatedly stated that there will be no changes in its arms sales plans to Taiwan.
Hong Mengkai pointed out that media reports analyzed the four main reasons why arms sales to Taiwan are blocked, which may include Trump using arms sales as a bargaining chip with China, or Beijing's pressure. He said that the Legislative Yuan has passed a special budget of 780 billion yuan, covering the first US$11 billion and the second US$14 billion of arms sales. "The money is all for you," but the US$14 billion of arms sales are currently suspended. He asked whether President Lai Qingde asked the dean to conduct a sandbox exercise and convene a national security meeting after the Sichuan-Xi meeting last week.
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Zhuo Rongtai responded that the long-term cooperation between the United States and Taiwan and the current technological and economic cooperation are very stable. The government has always paid attention to the Trump-Xi meeting and the Trump-Xi meeting before, during and after the meeting. "We also believe that nothing unexpected has happened." The arms sales that have occurred or will occur between the United States and Taiwan are also being implemented as planned.
Hong Mengkai went on to mention that the representative in the United States, Yu Dai, accepted an exclusive interview with Bloomberg today, claiming that reports indicate that Trump is about to finalize US$14 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, and asked for clarification on whether there is such news. Gu Lixiong said that the United States stated that arms sales to Taiwan are still under review, and we respect the US review process. He said that he saw Yu Da’s statement that he hopes the United States will make a decision as soon as possible. Trump has repeatedly stated that it will make a decision as soon as possible. The U.S. Department of War has also repeatedly stated that there will be no changes in its arms sales plan to Taiwan. “So we will wait for the United States to announce its arms sales to us in due course.”
Hong Mengkai emphasized that from the standpoint of defending the Republic of China, he would absolutely fully support it, but Taiwan cannot be used as a bargaining chip. No matter who is in power, this should be defended. He pointed out that it has been two or three months since Trump publicly said in the media that arms sales to Taiwan were a very good bargaining chip with Beijing. He asked whether the government had expressed its protest to the United States through any channels. He also mentioned that there will be two more meetings between Trump and Xi, including APEC in November and the G20 in December, and he once again asked President Lai to convene the National Security Conference and the State Council Conference as soon as possible.
Zhuo Rongtai said that our relationship with the United States has always been stable, and the arms sales issues that have occurred are still being promoted as planned. The government also holds meetings every week or even irregularly through various forms. Hong Mengkai asked Zhuo whether he agreed with Trump's statement that he had "a very good bargaining chip." Zhuo Rongtai said "that is not the case."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The government will convene a national security meeting in the next two weeks to review the progress of U.S.-Taiwan arms sales
Likely · Within weeks
U.S.-Taiwan arms sales will resume review process within the next month
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Does the United States really use arms sales as a bargaining chip with China?
- Is Beijing exerting pressure to affect the progress of arms sales?
- Has the government expressed its concerns to the US through formal channels?
- Will Taiwan Strait issues be discussed at subsequent APEC and G20 meetings?
