Trump seeks to push through arms sales to Taiwan just before leaving office, timing his move with precision akin to a clock.

[Trump Aims to Delay Approval of Arms Sales to Taiwan Until Before His Departure]

This spring, in preparation for a visit to China, Trump put on hold a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. While the move was described as a suspension rather than cancellation, it implies that the transaction could be revived at any time. The timing of its potential approval has drawn sustained international attention, given its direct implications for Sino-American relations.

According to exclusive information obtained by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, the Trump administration is considering postponing the announcement of the arms package until after this year’s November Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit—possibly even after the G20 summit. In any case, the decision is expected to be delayed until at least the end of this year, with the likelihood of unfreezing the deal next year considered low.

The final decision will rest with Trump himself, though it involves intricate calculations. Beyond broader Sino-American dynamics, the influence of U.S. hawkish factions and Taiwan’s lobbying networks is expected to play a role behind the scenes.

Further sources indicate that Trump once contemplated delaying the approval of the frozen arms package until just before his departure from office—potentially as late as late 2028 or early 2029—highlighting the relative weight he currently assigns to U.S.-China relations. However, this idea faced strong opposition from Washington’s hawkish establishment, leaving the possibility of such a delay uncertain.

A more plausible scenario may involve a compromise: the Trump administration is reportedly exploring a strategy of "cutting the sausage" by breaking the large-scale arms transfer into smaller, incremental packages, with approvals and announcements staggered over time. The precise approach will depend on how Sino-American relations evolve in the coming months.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876752056508428/

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