The acting US Navy secretary said Thursday that arms sales to Taiwan had been put on “pause” to ensure the American military had sufficient munitions for its Iran operations.

Acting Secretary Hung Cao made the remarks at a congressional hearing, addressing the stalled $14 billion weapons purchase by Taiwan.

Why has the US paused arms sales to Taiwan?

The US paused the $14 billion Taiwan arms sale to conserve munitions for Operation Epic Fury, its ongoing war against Iran.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Congress the pause was a precautionary measure to confirm adequate supplies before resuming. He added that foreign military sales would continue “when the administration deems necessary.”

What did Taiwan say about the arms sale pause?

Taiwan’s Presidential Office said it had received no official notification of any change. Spokeswoman Karen Kuo said Friday there was “no information indicating that the US intends to make any adjustments to this arms sale.”

The US State Department and the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment on Cao’s remarks.

What is Trump’s position on the Taiwan arms sale?

President Donald Trump has not committed to completing the sale, raising concerns about his support for Taiwan.

Ahead of his recent state visit to China, Trump said he would discuss the arms sales with President Xi Jinping, departing from Washington’s previous position that it would not consult Beijing on the matter. After the visit, Trump said he had made no commitments to Xi and would decide on the sale “over the next fairly short period of time.”

What does US law say about arming Taiwan?

Under US law, Washington is required to provide weapons to Taiwan for its self-defense, despite only formally recognizing Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out using force to take it, increasing military pressure in recent years. The legal obligation puts the arms pause in direct tension with Washington’s statutory commitments to the island.