President Donald Trump said he made no commitment to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding U.S. policy on Taiwan or pending arms sales.

The lack of a definitive agreement leaves a significant military aid package in limbo, potentially affecting the security balance in the Taiwan Strait. Lawmakers have pressed the administration for clarity on military support after the summit concluded.

Trump spoke to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, May 15, while returning from a two-day [1] summit in Beijing. During the flight, he addressed the status of a pending U.S. arms package for Taiwan valued at $14 billion [2].

"I made no commitment on Taiwan, or on the arms sales," Trump said [3].

The president said he intentionally avoided a specific stance to maintain diplomatic flexibility during the negotiations with China. He declined to provide further details on the specific nature of the discussions regarding the island's defense.

"I don't talk about that," Trump said [4].

Despite the president's statements, U.S. legislators have expressed concern over the unresolved status of the weapons deal. The $14 billion [2] package represents a critical component of the U.S. strategy to bolster Taiwan's defensive capabilities against potential aggression.

Trump said he made "no commitment either way" to Xi Jinping regarding the weapons sales [5]. This approach suggests a strategy of strategic ambiguity, keeping both Beijing and Taipei uncertain about the final decision on the arms transfer.

“"I made no commitment on Taiwan, or on the arms sales."”

By refusing to commit to either the approval or the cancellation of the $14 billion arms package, the Trump administration is employing a high-stakes version of strategic ambiguity. This allows the U.S. to use the arms sale as a bargaining chip in broader trade or diplomatic negotiations with China while avoiding a direct provocation that could destabilize the region before a final deal is reached.