Taiwan says it is in continuous talks with US about arms sales

Taiwan is in continuous talks with the United States about arms sales and has received reassurances since the Washington summit between the US and Chinese leaders that US policy on Taiwan has not changed, the defence minister said on Tuesday.



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



China has repeatedly called for Taiwan arms sales to end, and in May, following a Beijing trip, US President Donald Trump said he was keeping a new package worth some $14 billion in abeyance.



However, after meeting President Xi Jinping in Washington last week, Trump said only that the Chinese leader understands his position on Taiwan.



Speaking to reporters at parliament in Taipei, Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said that following the Washington summit, the government has "repeatedly received explanations from the US side that US policy toward Taiwan has not changed".