Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister: Arming Taiwan Is an 'Important US Interest' as Trump Stays Silent on $14B Package After Xi Summit

Speaking to reporters in Taipei on Saturday, September 26, 2026, Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu (Wu Chih-chung) said maintaining US military sales to Taiwan, giving it sufficient capability to defend itself so it does not have to live under Chinese rule, and allowing its semiconductor industry to keep contributing to the world 'are important US interests' — pushing back on the idea that concessions on Taiwan would actually serve Washington. The remarks came after President Trump's three-day Washington summit with Xi Jinping concluded September 25 with no public decision on the paused $14 billion Taiwan arms package; Trump has made no comment on Taiwan or the pending weapons sale since the meeting ended. Taiwan's National Cheng Kung University political scientist Wang Hung-jen said the summit outcome was 'better than had been expected,' with Xi not appearing to directly raise arms sales during the talks. The Trump administration approved a record $11 billion Taiwan package in December 2025; the second, roughly $14 billion package has been held in abeyance since Trump's May 2026 Beijing meeting with Xi.