Taiwan weapons sales on ‘pause’ due to Iran conflict – One America News Network

May 22, 2026 Jenna Lee US 0

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 12: Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao arrives at a hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense about the Navy's FY2027 budget at the U.S. Capitol on May 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration is asking for an unprecedented $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon, an increase of 50-percent over last year's budget. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao arrives at a hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense about the Navy’s FY2027 budget at the U.S. Capitol on May 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Jenna Lee
6:30 PM – Friday, May 22, 2026

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has announced that the U.S. is pausing its $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, attributing the delay to requirements stemming from the administration’s ongoing conflict with Iran.

“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. We’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,” said Cao to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

During the testimony, when McConnell asked if he believed the arms sale would eventually be approved, Cao responded that the final decision would lie with War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. McConnell directly countered that this development was “what’s really distressing.”

However, on Friday, Taiwan’s presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo stated in Taipei that the government had received “no information indicating that the U.S. intends to make any adjustments to this arms sale” in response to Cao’s remarks.

“If we want to prevent a war from happening, I think it’s best that Taiwan is strong, able to defend itself, and therefore we should be able to acquire — to buy the arms that we need to have a stronger defense, you know,” added Taiwan’s U.S. representative Alexander Yui earlier on Sunday.

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