The United States has said its military support for Taiwan remains unchanged despite the ongoing war with Iran, dismissing concerns that weapons shipments could be delayed due to rising defence demands.

Speaking at a congressional hearing, U.S. officials confirmed that deliveries to Taiwan have not been affected.

No Delay Despite War Pressure

Stanley Brown, a senior State Department official, told lawmakers that the conflict had not slowed transfers.

“Have we delayed moving things to Taiwan? We haven’t,” he said.

The reassurance comes amid concerns that the ongoing U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran could strain defence production and divert resources away from key allies like Taiwan.

Taiwan Remains Top Priority

Officials emphasised that Taiwan continues to be prioritised over other buyers in the global queue for U.S. weapons.

Michael Miller, head of the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, said guidance issued in 2023 remains in force, ensuring Taiwan receives preference in arms allocations.

“In cases of competing demand, Taiwan would take priority,” he said, citing anti-ship missile systems as an example.

Backlog And Growing Pressure

Even before the Iran conflict, Taiwan faced delays in receiving billions of dollars worth of U.S. weapons due to production bottlenecks.

The administration is now exploring ways to speed up deliveries, though no details have been disclosed.

Meanwhile, China continues to increase military pressure on the island, regularly conducting drills and deploying aircraft and naval vessels in the region.

Trump Visit Delay Adds Uncertainty

The issue gained further attention as President Donald Trump postponed a planned visit to China, where Taiwan was expected to be a key topic of discussion with President Xi Jinping.

A proposed $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan potentially the largest ever is also awaiting approval, though it remains unclear if the delay will affect its timeline.

(with inputs from Reuters)