Anduril founder Palmer Luckey said a delay in U.S. approval of a major arms package for Taiwan is affecting the defense technology company’s business, as Washington weighs military support for Taipei ahead of another high-profile meeting with China.
Speaking in Taipei on Saturday, Luckey said the stalled approvals were complicating work for companies supplying Taiwan’s military. Reuters reported that a roughly $14 billion package has been awaiting approval while the Trump administration manages a broader set of negotiations with Beijing.
Anduril has growing ties with Taiwan
Anduril develops drones, autonomous systems and other defense technology. The company has already sold systems to Taiwan and has worked on projects including the Barracuda-500 missile. Luckey said he has raised the issue of delayed approvals with President Donald Trump.
Taiwan has been accelerating investment in unmanned systems and other capabilities intended to make its forces more resilient. The Associated Press reported this week that Taiwan conducted joint drills combining attack drones with conventional weapons, part of a broader modernization effort.
Arms sales remain a sensitive US-China issue
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes U.S. military support for the island. The United States maintains unofficial relations with Taipei and, under U.S. law, provides support intended to help Taiwan maintain a self-defense capability.
The timing is significant because Trump is due to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in the United States next week. Taiwan, technology controls and trade are all among the issues surrounding the wider U.S.-China relationship.
No final decision on the pending arms package was announced on Saturday. Until an approval is formally issued, details of individual systems and delivery schedules remain subject to change.
Sources: Reuters and The Associated Press. Featured image: Xuthoria, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
