As Trump talks trade with Xi, Trump Halts $400 Million in Taiwan Weapons Aid, Washington Post Reports

President Donald Trump has declined to approve a more than $400 million military aid package for Taiwan as he seeks a trade deal with China, according to the Washington Post.

The shipment including munitions and autonomous drones was rejected in a decision this summer that may still be reversed, the newspaper reported Thursday evening US time, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a Bloomberg News request for comment, but earlier told the Post the decision had not been finalized.

If confirmed, the pause in security assistance aligns with the Trump administration’s efforts to cool tensions with Beijing as he seeks an expansive trade agreement with the world’s second-largest economy. Trump is set to hold his first phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping since June on Friday, an exchange that may lead to a deal over TikTok’s US operations and pave the way for a meeting next month.

Russia is helping China to prepare for a potential invasion of Taiwan, defense institute says​

The Royal United Services Institute’s analysis is based on around 800 pages of documents, including contracts and lists of equipment to be supplied by Moscow to Beijing, from the Black Moon hacktivist group, which previously published some of the documents online

--from 'analysis' link

Russia has agreed to equip and train the PLA to air-drop armoured vehicles and special reconnaissance capabilities.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be ready to militarily seize Taiwan by 2027.

Although the areas where Russia surpasses China in military capability are diminishing, Russia has practical experience and capabilities for air manoeuvre that China lacks. According to contracts and correspondence obtained by the Black Moon hacktivist group, Russia agreed in 2023 to supply the PLA with a complete set of weapons and equipment to equip an airborne battalion, as well as other special equipment necessary for airborne infiltration of special forces, along with a full cycle of training for operators and technical personnel to use this equipment. In addition, Russia is transferring technologies that will allow China to scale-up the production of similar weapons and military equipment through localization and modernization.

In addition, the agreements provide for the transfer of special-purpose parachute systems ‘Dalnolyot’, which are designed for inserting loads of up to 190 kg from an altitude of up to 32,000 feet, achieving a range of between 30-80 km depending on load. Russia is equipping and training Chinese special forces groups to penetrate the territory of other countries without being noticed, offering offensive options against Taiwan, the Philippines and other island states in the region.

Classified US intelligence warns of China's preparations for Taiwan invasion​

A classified US military intelligence report seen by the ABC says China is rapidly building up the country's commercial ferry fleet to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan.

The report dates from earlier this year and was prepared by members of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for the Pentagon.

The US intelligence says the large ocean-going vessels have been modified to carry tanks and partake in amphibious operations.

China is building more than 70 of the large vessels by the end of 2026.

The first evidence of ferries being used for Chinese military operations came in 2019 when the 15,000-ton vessel the Bang Chui Dao participated in an amphibious assault exercise.

rambot said:

Seems like the perfect time for China to do it.

Trump isn't going to involve himself in any more wars.

Click to expand...

Getting involved might mess up the Tiktok deal. Gotta get your priorities straight.

Xi to ask Trump to oppose Taiwan independence in return for trade deal​

Speaking of deals.

Xi Jinping is planning to use trade negotiations to pressure Donald Trump into declaring that the US opposes Taiwan’s independence, according to reports.

The Chinese leader is hoping to capitalise on the success of the recent agreement on TikTok’s future in the US and Mr Trump’s desire to secure a favourable trade deal to pressure Washington to abandon its support for Taipei.

Why did the military aid stop flowing?

I need you to do me a favor though.

Taiwan pressured to move 50% of chip production to US or lose protection​

The Trump administration is pressuring Taiwan to rapidly move 50 percent of its chip production into the US if it wants ensured protection against a threatened Chinese invasion, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told NewsNation this weekend.
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However, he also claimed that if the US acquired a 50 percent market share, it would ensure that the US has "the semiconductors we need for American consumption," emphasizing that the move is intended to decrease reliance on Taiwan.

Well, if we become independent of Taiwan, why protect it at all? I'm sure Taiwan must be thinking the same thing.