Taiwan’s president said on Thursday he hoped the United States would approve a $14 billion arms sale “as soon as possible”, reiterating that the democratic island “rejects unification” with China.
Taiwan relies heavily on US support to deter any potential Chinese attack, and Washington has put pressure on Taipei to increase its defence spending.
But arms sales to Taiwan complicate ties between Washington and Beijing, which opposes them. In May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the $14 billion deal was “under review”.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday he still had “high hopes”, adding: “We hope that the arms purchases can be approved as soon as possible.”
“Taiwan’s efforts to safeguard its national security, uphold its democratic and free way of life, and reject unification and the rule of the Chinese Communist Party should not be seen as a provocation against China,” he said to journalists in Taipei.
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The United States formally recognises only China, but is also required under domestic law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
