Ahead of Beijing Summit, Senator Kim Urges President Trump to Permit Taiwan Arms Sales

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter urging President Trump to formally notify $14 billion in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan ahead of his summit with Chinese President Xi later this week. The letter was signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Curtis (R-UT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). “We strongly encourage your administration to formally notify the $14 billion in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan that Congress pre-approved in January 2025,” wrote the Senators. “Following months of encouragement from bipartisan members of Congress and your administration, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan today approved a robust special defense budget of $25 billion to enhance the island’s self-defense capabilities. The vast majority of this new budget will fund U.S.-provided defensive arms pending notification to Congress, including counter-drone assets, an integrated battle command system and medium-range munitions.” The Senators insisted to the President that American support for Taiwan not be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Xi. “Just as Taiwan’s leaders demonstrated unity in support of their people’s defense, so too must we move ahead with pending U.S. arms sales vital to our own national interests,” continued the Senators. “You should make clear to Beijing that as you seek to level the economic playing field, American support for Taiwan is not up for negotiation.” The Senators outlined the negative consequences of PRC control of Taiwan would have on American families. “In a world in which Beijing moves decisively to seek control of Taiwan, American families would suffer from severe and long-term inflation, supply chain disruptions that would destroy manufacturing jobs at home and steep hikes in the cost of living,” concluded the Senators. “We would lose a vital democratic and technology partner to autocracy and our allies would be forced to readjust to a regional order dominated by Beijing. This future is not theoretical. It can and must be prevented and we have partners in Taipei stepping up to meet the challenge. That is why we urge you to formally notify the $14 billion package of arms to Congress as required by law.” Read the full letter to President Trump. The letter builds on Senator Kim’s work to support Taiwan, a critical partner of the United States. Earlier this year, he helped lead the introduction of the bipartisan Taiwan Allies Fund Act to strengthen Taiwan’s global network as well as the Blue Skies for Taiwan Act that expands cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan on the development of unmanned aerial systems. ###