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US Navy signals pause in Taiwan arms sale, drawing swift reaction from Beijing

Beijing reaffirmed its opposition to arms sales to Taiwan after the acting secretary of the US Navy said Washington was pausing a US$14 billion weapons…

By Samantha Johnson / May 22, 2026
Beijing reaffirmed its opposition to arms sales to Taiwan after the acting secretary of the US Navy said Washington was pausing a US$14 billion weapons purchase by the self-governed island.

“China’s firm opposition to US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region is consistent, clear and unwavering,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.

On Thursday, acting US Navy head Hung Cao told a congressional hearing that “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”.

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Cao was responding to a question about a possible pause at a hearing of the US Senate appropriations subcommittee on defence.

“But we’re just making sure we have everything, then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,” he said.

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In Taipei, presidential office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said there was “no information indicating that the US intends to make any adjustments to this arms sale”.

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