Taiwan hopes US arms sale package can be approved soon, president says

Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te said he hopes the United States approves a $14bn arms sale 'as soon as possible', reiterating that the island 'rejects unification' with China. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in May the deal was 'under review', while a top US military official last month said the sale was paused to conserve munitions for the war on Iran. Lai emphasized that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future and that Taiwan's refusal to accept unification should not be seen as a provocation.