Comments from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao this week have reportedly added a new layer of uncertainty to the Trump administration’s approach toward both Taiwan and the growing strain on America’s weapons stockpiles amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Speaking before Senate appropriators on Thursday, Cao acknowledged that the Pentagon has paused parts of a planned $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan while officials review U.S. munitions reserves tied to Operation Epic Fury, the official name for President Donald Trump’s war with Iran.
The remarks appeared to cut against repeated assurances from administration officials that the United States still maintains ample missile and interceptor inventories despite the demands of the conflict. Cao insisted the U.S. still has “plenty” of weapons available, but said officials are reviewing foreign military sales to ensure America retains what it needs for the war effort.
The comments also complicated Trump’s own explanation for the Taiwan delay. The president recently suggested the potential arms package could serve as leverage in negotiations with Beijing, calling arms sales to Taiwan “a very good negotiating chip” in dealing with China.
Analysts say the administration may now be pursuing two goals at once: easing tensions with Beijing while quietly conserving munitions depleted during months of fighting in the Middle East.
Evan Sankey, a China and East Asia analyst at the Cato Institute, told The Hill that delaying the Taiwan sale could help the White House preserve improving ties with China while also addressing practical military concerns.
Trump recently traveled to China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and notably avoided publicly discussing Taiwan during the trip. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to bring the island under its control by force if necessary.
Chinese officials have long opposed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, warning such moves increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait. When Washington approved a separate $11 billion package for Taiwan in December, China sharply condemned the decision, claiming it would push the region toward a “dangerous and violent situation.”
That package also has yet to move forward.
Although the United States does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country, Washington continues supplying weapons intended to help the island maintain its self-defense capabilities.
Trump later acknowledged the Taiwan arms issue had been discussed “in great detail” with Xi, despite a 1982 U.S. pledge that Washington would not consult Beijing over such sales.
The administration’s hesitation has frustrated defense hawks on Capitol Hill. Mitch McConnell called the delay “distressing” during Thursday’s hearing, while John Kennedy argued the weapons could provide leverage and stability without leading to war.
Kennedy pressed Navy Chief of Operations Daryl Caudle on why the U.S. should delay selling Taiwan the weapons it wants. Caudle declined to directly challenge the administration’s position, saying such matters involve a broader calculation of diplomatic and military considerations.
Behind the scenes, concerns over America’s weapons inventory appear increasingly difficult to dismiss. Since the Iran war began in February, the U.S. has reportedly expended thousands of missiles, including Tomahawks, Patriot interceptors and long-range cruise missiles.
The Pentagon has also reportedly delayed missile deliveries to both Japan and South Korea amid mounting supply concerns.
Still, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected claims that stockpiles are dangerously low, accusing critics and media outlets of overstating the problem.
Congress is now awaiting what could become an enormous supplemental funding request reportedly ranging between $80 billion and $100 billion to continue supporting the Iran war and replenish depleted weapons inventories.
Meanwhile, officials in Taiwan say they have not been formally informed of any pause on the proposed $14 billion package. Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo said the island remains “cautiously optimistic” about future arms purchases from the United States.
As the administration attempts to balance diplomacy with Beijing, military readiness and a costly overseas conflict, the debate underscores how prolonged wars abroad can quickly ripple outward — reshaping alliances, draining stockpiles and forcing difficult choices far beyond the battlefield.
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