Taiwan sees continued US arms sale s

Taiwan has always enjoyed cross-party US support and Congress will continue to help in strengthening Taipei's defence capabilities, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Thursday when asked about arms sales following the US midterm elections.



The United States is Chinese-claimed Taiwan's most important international backer and weapons supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.



While President Donald Trump last December approved $11 billion in arms for Taiwan, the largest sale ever, a second package worth some $14 billion has stalled.



Following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May, Trump called the package a good "bargaining chip" that he was holding in "abeyance".



China regularly describes Taiwan as its most sensitive and important diplomatic issue, and has repeatedly called for arms sales to stop. The US is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.