Rubio ties Taiwan arms sales to US military needs

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that arms sales to Taiwan depend on U.S. military needs, leaving a $14 billion weapons package for Taipei uncertain. Rubio said any arms sale must be balanced with what U.S. military commanders report as minimum requirements in case of conflict. The package, potentially the largest ever for Taiwan, awaits approval. Republican senators urged the administration to release over $15 billion in security assistance. The issue is expected to arise in upcoming talks between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Washington. Trump has called Taiwan a "great bargaining chip" with China. Beijing claims Taiwan as "inalienable" territory, while Washington maintains "strategic ambiguity" over military intervention.