Senate Democrats press Trump to deliver approved arms to Taiwan

Sep 30, 2026

More than 20 Democratic senators are pushing the White House to hand over billions in already-approved weapons to Taiwan, a sign Congress worries Taiwan got sidelined at the Trump-Xi summit.

  • The senators want Trump to immediately release $14 billion in approved arms sales plus $1.3 billion in defense funding for Taiwan.
  • The statement, led by Jeanne Shaheen and backed by Chuck Schumer and Jack Reed, calls US support for Taiwan's defense "non-negotiable."
  • Xi pressed Trump at their White House meeting to oppose Taiwanese independence; Trump later said the two barely discussed Taiwan.
  • The senators also want Washington to stand with Indo-Pacific allies against China's island-building in the South China Sea and its pressure in the East China Sea.
  • Republican Senate Armed Services chair Roger Wicker separately met Taiwan's envoy and stressed the US must honor the Taiwan Relations Act.

Outlook: Expect growing bipartisan pressure in Congress to speed up the stalled weapons deliveries, and friction with a White House trying to keep its trade truce with Beijing intact.

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