Taiwan Vows to Keep US Arms Sales on Track Ahead of Xi-Trump Talks

Taiwan will maintain close contact with the US to implement arms sales as planned, a defense ministry official said Wednesday, ahead of a meeting between US and Chinese leaders in Washington. China views Taiwan as its own territory and has demanded an end to US arms sales. Taiwan's deputy defense spokesperson Chiao Fu-chun said security in the Indo-Pacific is a "common interest of democratic nations," citing US support for Taiwan's self-defense. This follows President Trump's approval of an $11 billion arms package in December, with a second $14 billion package currently on hold. China's President Xi Jinping is expected to press Trump to halt sales during their Washington meeting. Taiwan has its own weapons development program, and its army demonstrated a new domestically made armored vehicle in live-fire exercises on Wednesday.