President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan emphasized that U.S. weapons sales remain vital for regional peace and stability, responding to President Trump's suggestion that arms deals could serve as a "negotiating chip" with China. Lai thanked Trump for increased arms sales since his first term and stressed continued U.S. support remains "indispensable" for Taiwan's self-defense capabilities.

Taiwan awaits Trump's approval of a $14 billion package of missiles, anti-drone equipment, and air defense systems intended to fortify against Chinese military threats. This comes as Trump appeared to break with decades of U.S. policy by discussing arms sales with China's Xi Jinping, despite a 1982 commitment that Washington would not negotiate the subject with Beijing.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer claimed there was "no change" in U.S. Taiwan policy, seemingly contradicting Trump's earlier statements. Taiwan's representative to Washington, Alexander Yui, emphasized Taiwan's defensive position: "We're not creating trouble — those are intruders trying to get into our house." He maintained that arms sales to Taiwan actually promote regional stability through self-defense.