Republican Senator Roger Wicker said the U.S. must honor its security commitments to Taiwan after meeting Taipei's representative, urging Congress-authorized funds under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act be used for training, security assistance and arms. He warned of growing Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific and called for adherence to the precedent of not consulting Beijing on Taiwan arms sales. Four GOP senators have pressed the administration to release more than $15 billion in stalled assistance.
Senator Wicker Urges U.S. To Honor Taiwan Security Commitments, Cites Rising Chinese Aggression
A person rides a scooter past Taiwan flags, above the entrance to Nanjichang Night Market, in Taipei, Taiwan, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Republican Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the United States must uphold its security commitments to Taiwan after meeting on Tuesday with Alexander Yui, Taipei's representative in Washington.
Wicker reiterated that Congress-authorized resources under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act should be used to provide Taiwan with the training, security assistance and arms necessary for its self-defense. His comments follow a joint push by four Republican senators last week urging the Trump administration to release more than $15 billion in national security assistance that has been held up.
Although the United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it remains the island's chief international backer and primary supplier of weapons. Under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Washington is obligated to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself — a responsibility Wicker said Congress must ensure is honored.
"As members of Congress, we have a duty to make sure this law is adhered to and that decisions about the defense needs of Taiwan are based on our joint assessment of military necessity," Wicker said in a statement.
Wicker told reporters his discussion with Yui also addressed what he described as a growing pattern of Chinese aggression toward U.S. and Indo-Pacific allies. He emphasized that previously authorized and appropriated resources should be deployed for the purposes Congress intended — including enhanced training, security assistance and arms sales.
"In response — and in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act — Congress has authorized and appropriated a surge in resources to provide Taiwan with enhanced training, security assistance, and arms sales. These authorities must be used for the purposes that Congress intended," Wicker added.
China has repeatedly protested U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. In May, after a trip to Beijing, President Donald Trump said he was keeping a proposed arms package worth about $14 billion in abeyance. After meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington last week, Trump said Xi understood his position on Taiwan but gave no public commitment to change policy.
Wicker also urged the U.S. to maintain the Reagan-era precedent that Washington would not consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future.
Taipei has continued talks with Washington about arms sales. Taiwan's Defence Minister, Wellington Koo, said earlier on Tuesday that Taipei had received reassurances since the Trump-Xi summit that U.S. policy toward Taiwan had not changed.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
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