A delayed $14 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan has fueled questions about the extent to which U.S. inventories have been drained, and whether U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific region is shifting.
There has been elevated global demand for U.S. arms in recent years, and orders already routinely take years to fulfill. News of the delay also came as President Donald Trump visited China, stoking speculation that he was shifting U.S. policy toward Taiwan in a larger play to advance relations with China.
At a Senate hearing on May 21, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan was paused to ensure U.S. forces had enough munitions on hand for the ongoing armed standoff with Iran. …