US Democrats Oppose "Delay of Arms Sales to Taiwan" in Message to Trump Ahead of China Visit

Approved by U.S. Congress in January... Delays Continue
"Possible Bargaining Over Iran and Taiwan Issues"

AP Yonhap News

The leadership of the U.S. Democratic Party has sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him not to delay arms sales to Taiwan. This move aims to prevent President Trump from using the issue of arms sales to Taiwan as a bargaining chip during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Trump administration has reportedly postponed arms sales to Taiwan for several months.

According to The Hill, a U.S. political media outlet, on the 13th (local time), the Democratic leadership sent a letter to President Trump the previous day, urging him to promptly execute the $14 billion (approximately 20.853 trillion won) arms sales deal to Taiwan that received prior approval from the U.S. Congress in January. The letter also stated, "Delays in the congressionally approved arms sales to Taiwan undermine effective cross-strait deterrence," and argued that "even the possibility of China exerting undue influence over U.S. policy toward Taiwan undermines the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the Six Assurances."

The letter further stressed, "We oppose any attempt by China to manipulate U.S. policy toward Taiwan." The letter was signed by leading Democratic lawmakers, including Ro Khanna (California), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; Jim Himes (Connecticut), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Adam Smith (Washington), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; and Gregory Meeks (New York), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The delay in the U.S.-Taiwan arms sales agreement began as the current summit was being arranged. The deal includes the supply of Patriot interceptor missiles and air defense systems, as well as anti-drone equipment. As China protested these planned sales, The Hill analyzed that the administration has intentionally delayed the formal supply schedule, failing to notify Congress despite its prior approval.

China has repeatedly emphasized that the Taiwan issue would be a key agenda item at the upcoming summit. On the previous day, the Chinese state-run newspaper People's Daily published a commentary stating, "The Taiwan issue is the first insurmountable red line in China-U.S. relations," and described it as "the biggest risk factor in bilateral relations."

Meanwhile, Taiwan conducted live-fire drills in front-line areas adjacent to mainland China, increasing pressure on both the U.S. and China. According to the Liberty Times, the Taiwan Army's Kinmen Defense Command announced that it had carried out live-fire exercises using artillery, tanks, and armored vehicles along the coastal area of Kinmen, the front line with China. Notably, the Liberty Times reported that the U.S.-supplied Javelin anti-tank missile was deployed in the exercise.

Within and outside U.S. political circles, there are concerns that President Trump may engage in political bargaining with China over the issues of the Iran war and Taiwan. Citing U.S. and Taiwanese officials, CNN reported that "given President Trump's penchant for deal-making, there are concerns he could offer concessions on the Taiwan issue in exchange for China's cooperation on a potential Iran ceasefire agreement during the summit."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.