00:00U.S. top diplomat says a $14 billion U.S. dollar arms sale to Taiwan is still under review,
00:06but denies that Beijing is influencing the decision.
00:10U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made these comments at a Senate hearing on Tuesday,
00:16where he also emphasized that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.
00:20Several senators raised questions about the administration's commitment to Taiwan
00:25following President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month,
00:30and Trump's suggestion that arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a negotiating chip in dealings with China.
00:37When the president says it's a great negotiating thing, what he's really saying is it's because China,
00:42as you can imagine, always mentions this.
00:44Like, this is a top priority for them.
00:46They are constantly talking about Taiwan arms sales,
00:48but that in no way is what is holding up our decision-making or the White House's decision-making.
00:55The $14 billion U.S. dollar arms package, which would be the largest arms sale to Taiwan if approved by
01:02Trump,
01:02includes weapons systems aimed at strengthening Taiwan's air defense.
01:06Washington's messaging on the arms deal has been closely scrutinized for signs of a policy shift,
01:12particularly after Trump's meeting with Xi.
01:15Days after Trump said Taiwan arms sales could serve as a good negotiating chip with China,
01:21acting Navy Secretary Hong Cao told Congress on May 21st that the delay was linked to the war in Iran.
01:28Defense Secretary Pete Hessex later said at the Shangri-La Dialogue that there had been no change in the U
01:34.S. position on arms sales to Taiwan.
01:37Rubio's comments on Tuesday reinforced that stance.
01:40In response to Rubio's comments, Taiwan's Defense Ministry says it has not received any notice of delays to arms sales
01:47and will continue to work closely with the U.S. on them.
01:51Rubio also says that the U.S. has just approved a major $11 billion U.S. dollar arms sale to
01:57Taiwan last December,
01:58calling it the largest ever and evidence of continuing U.S. support for Taiwan's defense needs.
02:04Fu Hua Hong and Nen Lu in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
