Donald Trump refuses to approve military aid to Taiwan

US President Donald Trump has refused to approve $400 million in military aid to Taiwan, alongside trade negotiations with China, the Washington Post reported on Friday.

The decision, if final, will represent a major shift in Washington's policy toward the island , a White House official told the newspaper.

The US severed diplomatic ties with Taipei in the 1970s, but remains the main arms supplier to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a Chinese province, not excluding the use of force to conquer the island.

Trump is expected to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this Friday, in what will be his second phone call since the Republican returned to the White House, as both seek compromises on trade tariffs and the future of the TikTok app.

Under President Joe Biden (2021-2025), the US approved more than two billion dollars (1.7 billion euros) in military aid to Taiwan.

According to the Washington Post, Trump does not support sending weapons without financial compensation, a position he had previously expressed regarding Ukraine.

US and Taiwanese defense officials met in Alaska in August to discuss a potential arms sales deal worth several billion euros, including unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), missiles and coastal surveillance sensors.

Since Trump's return to the White House in January, Taipei has expressed concern about Washington's commitment to defending the island in the event of an attack from China.

Faced with growing military pressure from Beijing, Taiwan has increased defense spending and plans to request a record supplementary budget of up to 28 billion euros.