Billions of dollars in arms sales to Taiwan are being delayed by the Trump administration ahead of President Donald Trump's trip to Beijing in April, The New York Times reported.
The package is being delayed to avoid upsetting China's leader Xi Jinping, the Times said.
The weapons sale, which includes air-defense missiles, was approved by a bipartisan group of lawmakers after the State Department sent it for review in January, the Times reported, citing U.S. officials.
The arms sale is valued at $13 billion, U.S. officials told the Times.
The State Department told the Times it does not comment on pending arms sales.
"This administration has been very clear that the enduring U.S. commitment to Taiwan continues, as it has for over four decades," the State Department said in a statement to the Times.
The package of weapons includes interceptor missiles for Patriot air-defense launchers, anti-drone equipment, and NASAMS, another missile-based air-defense system, an official told the Times.
On a call between Trump and Xi earlier this month, the Chinese leader warned about providing arms to Taiwan.
"The U.S. must handle arms sales to Taiwan with extreme caution," Xi told Trump, according to a summary of the call by Chinese state news outlets.
Xi told Trump that the U.S. stance on Taiwan was "the most important issue in China-U.S. relations" and that China "will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China."
On Feb. 16, Trump said he was weighing what to do about selling arms to Taiwan, noting Xi's opposition.
"I'm talking to him about it," Trump said.
A prior diplomatic agreement, the Six Assurances, says the U.S. government will not consult with China about selling arms to Taiwan.
Trump's goal is to preserve a trade truce with Xi while not being pushed around by China, officials told The Wall Street Journal.
Chinese officials have discussed a larger economic package, including significant U.S. Treasury purchases, that could be in play for the U.S. in exchange for publicly opposing Taiwanese independence, the Journal reported.
An email has been sent to the State Department requesting comment.
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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