Four Republican senators—McConnell, Cornyn, Murkowski and Tillis—urged the Trump administration to free more than $15 billion in stalled security assistance for Taiwan ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit. They pointed to $300 million in foreign military financing not advanced by State, about $1 billion not obligated by Defense, and a withheld $14 billion arms package. The senators warned that treating Taiwan as a negotiating "chip" risks undermining U.S. deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. An $11 billion package was approved in December while a second, larger package remains on hold.
Four Republican Senators Urge Release Of $15B+ In Taiwan Security Aid Ahead Of Xi Visit
FILE PHOTO: The scene as U.S. President Donald Trump participates in events at the Great Hall of the People and does a greeting with the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, May 14, 2026, in Beijing, China during a trip focused on trade, regional security, and strengthening bilateral ties between the world’s two largest economies. Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Four Republican U.S. senators on Wednesday urged the Trump administration to release more than $15 billion in delayed national security assistance for Taiwan as President Donald Trump prepared to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a three-day state visit to Washington.
Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) sent a joint letter to senior officials in the State and Defense departments, expressing alarm over stalled funding and withheld approvals for major arms sales to Taiwan.
The senators highlighted three specific concerns: the State Department has not advanced $300 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) that Congress appropriated for Taiwan; the Defense Department has not obligated roughly $1 billion earmarked for the island; and approval has been withheld for a roughly $14 billion foreign military sales package that has been on hold for months.
"We are concerned by President Trump's description of Taiwan as 'a very good negotiating chip' in engagements with Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party," the letter said. "It is difficult to imagine how the United States might credibly project influence and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific if the price of keeping up diplomatic appearances is denying our partners key deterrent capabilities."
The State and Defense departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the senators' letter.
Senator Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in New York when asked about Taiwan-related arms sales, said the administration must weigh broader global priorities.
"I know everyone's focused on Taiwan, but I want you to focus globally for a moment. If we sell you something, we don't have it anymore. Now, we may be able to make it in the future, but we don't have it right now," Rubio said.
Why This Matters
China routinely describes Taiwan— which Beijing regards as its own territory— as its most sensitive and important diplomatic issue and has repeatedly urged an end to U.S. arms sales. U.S. law, however, obliges the United States to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
In December, the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package to Taiwan—the largest such sale to date. A second package, valued at about $14 billion, has remained on hold for months; after a May summit in Beijing with Xi, President Trump said he had put that package in abeyance and described it as "a very good negotiating chip."
Republican lawmakers rarely publicly challenge the president. Of the four senators who signed Wednesday's letter, McConnell, Cornyn and Tillis are set to leave the Senate at the end of the year; Murkowski will remain.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; edited by Bill Berkrot and Stephen Coates)
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