Secretary Rubio Tells Senate $14B Taiwan Arms Package is 'Under Review,' Not Paused — US Does Not Consult Beijing on Arms Decisions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the Senate that the $14 billion Taiwan arms package (PAC-3 MSE interceptors, NASAMS air defense systems) is 'under review' — not 'paused' — and that the United States does not consult Beijing on arms decisions to Taiwan. Rubio's testimony came in response to post-Trump-Xi summit reporting (Washington Post, May 22) that the package had been administratively frozen as a 'negotiating chip' ahead of the Beijing summit (May 14-15). The Secretary's clarification represents a significant diplomatic rebuff to the post-summit framing and signals US intent to maintain the Taiwan arms sales process as independent from bilateral US-China summit diplomacy. Context: Trump himself described the package as 'a very good bargaining chip with China' in mid-May 2026. The $11.2B December 2025 arms sale was triggered by elevated cross-strait tensions. Taiwan's HIMARS NT$800M down payment was confirmed met on May 31 (Executive Yuan emergency reserve); the NT$8.81B FY2026 budget passed May 29 without opposition. The FMS pause for Operation Epic Fury (Iran) — covering shared components — remains in effect per the Acting Navy Secretary's May 22 disclosure, but Rubio's testimony clarifies this is separate from the Taiwan policy decision.