Four GOP senators urge unfreezing 150 million Taiwan aid ahead of Xi summit

As U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a visit this week, four Republican senators have jointly petitioned the White House to lift the freeze on previously halted security assistance to Taiwan. According to reports compiled by CNA on the 23rd, citing foreign news agencies, this national security assistance package exceeding 15 billion U.S. dollars has been suspended since 2023 due to adjustments in U.S. policy toward Taiwan. The senators argued that this move not only weakens Taiwan's defense capabilities but could also create a regional security vacuum ahead of the high-level U.S.-China talks. The four senators, who are senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted in a statement that Taiwan's defense needs remain urgent, especially in the face of escalating military pressure from the mainland, and that the timely resumption of aid is a necessary implementation of America's commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act and agreements with Taiwan.

The backdrop of this move involves internal U.S. divisions over policy toward Taiwan. Since the Biden administration took office, the review process for arms sales and security assistance to Taiwan has become more cautious, with certain funds being delayed due to budget reviews and diplomatic considerations. The Trump administration had pledged in 2022 to increase military support for Taiwan, but amid rising cross-strait tensions and pressure from Beijing on the United States, the disbursement of related funds encountered obstacles. The senators' appeal comes on the eve of a summit between Trump and Xi, during which the two leaders will hold three days of talks in Washington to discuss trade, technology, regional security, and other issues. The senators are concerned that if Taiwan's defense resources are still not in place at this critical juncture, it will weaken the U.S. negotiating leverage regarding Taiwan during the talks or even be perceived as tacit approval of Beijing.

From Taiwan's perspective, the 15 billion U.S. dollar security assistance package covers several key items, including advanced air defense systems, naval vessels, and information warfare equipment. Taiwan's defense authorities have long relied on U.S. military supplies to maintain a balance of combat power, particularly as Beijing has accelerated the deployment of anti-ship missiles and fighter jet patrols in recent years, rendering the strategic environment in the Taiwan Strait increasingly tense. Taipei has repeatedly expressed to the United States its desire to see the related assistance resumed as soon as possible, emphasizing that this is not only a defensive requirement but also a necessary condition for maintaining regional stability. If the United States unfreezes the aid prior to the Trump-Xi summit, it will send a clear security guarantee to Taiwan while demonstrating to Beijing the U.S. resolve to stand by its commitments to Taiwan.

However, differing voices also exist within the Biden administration. Some officials believe that during the sensitive period of high-level U.S.-China engagement, placing excessive emphasis on military support for Taiwan could heighten Beijing's vigilance, thereby impacting the scope for cooperation on global issues such as trade and climate change. The diplomatic department has therefore adopted a more cautious approach toward fund disbursement, attempting to maintain the minimum level of defense support for Taiwan without disrupting bilateral relations. The open pressure from the senators demonstrates a clear tug-of-war of power between the U.S. Congress and the executive branch regarding policy toward Taiwan; how their respective positions are coordinated in the future will directly affect the trajectory of security in the Taiwan Strait.

In summary, the call by four Republican senators to unfreeze 15 billion U.S. dollars in security assistance to Taiwan on the eve of the Trump-Xi summit is both a response to Taiwan's defense needs and a strategic statement by domestic U.S. political forces amid strained U.S.-China relations. If the United States ultimately decides to resume the aid, it will help enhance Taiwan's defense capabilities and provide a degree of deterrence amid cross-strait tensions; if a reserved stance is maintained, it may subject Taiwan to greater uncertainty in its future security planning while testing the strategic commitments of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.