Trump Halts $400 Million Taiwan Military Aid Amid China Trade Deal Talks

President Donald Trump declined to approve over $400 million in military aid to Taiwan this past summer, a decision linked to his efforts to negotiate a trade deal with China, according to multiple reports including The Washington Post and Bloomberg. The aid package, which included munitions and autonomous drones, was more lethal than previous rounds and was part of a broader agreement on arms sales between US and Taiwanese defense officials. Although the decision is not final and may be reconsidered, it signals a potential shift in US policy toward Taiwan amid China's rapid military expansion and plans to be capable of seizing Taiwan by 2027. The Trump administration favors a transactional foreign policy, preferring that Taiwan pay for its own defense equipment rather than receiving free aid, aligning with its stance on other international security assistance such as to Ukraine. This approach has raised concerns among some Republicans and former Pentagon officials who argue that reducing military support now would be ill-timed given the growing threat from China. Meanwhile, Taiwan is actively discussing legislative measures to fund additional defense spending and is awaiting delivery of next-generation asymmetric weapons like drones and missiles, though such deliveries could take years.