Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo said on Monday he was "cautiously optimistic" about arms sales from the United States, after US President Donald Trump said he was still considering whether to proceed with new sales to the island, which China claims, Reuters reported.
Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, in which Taiwan was one of the main topics, raised concerns in Taipei about the US commitment to helping the island defend itself.
The US is legally obligated to provide weapons to Taiwan, and the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package in December, the largest to date. A second package, worth about $14 billion, has not yet been formally approved.
Speaking to reporters in parliament, Ku said the US has repeatedly said its policy towards Taiwan has not changed.
"The United States has long maintained peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait area through arms sales channels. This is established by the Taiwan Relations Act," he added, referring to a 1979 law that mandates arms sales.
Arms sales are an important "counterweight" to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Ku said.
"It is clear that the party that is constantly provoking, causing incidents and undermining the peaceful and stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait is China, not our country," he added.
"Therefore, under these circumstances, we believe that preserving that arms sales channel is in line with U.S. interests," Ku said.
Taiwan is continuing talks with the US on arms sales and "for now we remain cautiously optimistic," he added.
Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's claims of sovereignty, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
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