Trump pauses $400 million Taiwan aid as Xi call nears

Watch Trump pauses $400 million Taiwan aid as Xi call nears - Straight Arrow News on Dailymotion

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00:00President Trump has put a hold on more than $400 million in U.S. military aid to Taiwan,

00:06according to The Washington Post. The package, said to include munitions and autonomous drones,

00:11is described as more lethal than earlier rounds.

00:16A White House official says the decision isn't final, but the pause comes as the

00:21president seeks a trade deal and a potential summit with China's Xi Jinping. Bloomberg

00:26reports the two leaders are set to speak by phone Friday. Taiwan hasn't commented directly on the

00:32delay, but its foreign ministry says cooperation with the U.S. continues and Taiwan remains committed

00:37to strengthening its defenses with partners. U.S. officials have long said China's military has

00:43been tasked with being capable of taking Taiwan by 2027, though they stress that's not a deadline

00:50for invasion. On September 18th, China's defense minister called Taiwan an inseparable part of

00:56China, vowing to crush any independence efforts and warning against outside military interference.

01:02In the meantime, Taipei is pressing ahead. Lawmakers are debating a supplemental defense

01:08bill to fund asymmetric systems like drones, missiles and coastal sensors. Taiwan is already

01:14waiting on deliveries of F-16s and harpoon missiles. The Pentagon says the U.S. does not see conflict with

01:21China, but some analysts, including former Pentagon official Dan Blumenthal, warned that slowing aid

01:27now could send the wrong message. To stay up to date with the latest unbiased straight fact

01:31reporting, download the Shadar News app today.