Home / Latest Articles / Trump’s Taiwan Arms Delay Reflects Old Patterns, New Instability

Trump’s Taiwan Arms Delay Reflects Old Patterns, New Instability

Posted by: Rowan Allport

By Dr Rowan Allport, Deputy Director

3 June, 2026

President Trump’s decision to delay signing off on a Taiwan arms package supported by lawmakers because he believed it could provide leverage with China has provoked a bipartisan backlash.

Read more in RealClearDefense by clicking here.

Rowan’s book, War Plan Taiwan: OPLAN 5077 and the U.S. Struggle for the Pacific, is now available.

 

Image: President Donald J. Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

 

About Rowan Allport

Dr Rowan Allport is a Deputy Director who leads the HSC's Security and Defence team. Rowan holds a PhD in Politics and a MA in Conflict, Governance and Development from the University of York, as well as a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Hull. He is also the lead author of HSC's ‘Fire and Ice: A New Maritime Strategy for NATO’s Northern Flank’ report. Rowan's publication credits include articles and commentary in Foreign Policy, The Diplomat, The Hill and DefenseOne. He has previously worked as a lobbyist for Whitehouse Communications in Westminster, and as a Senior Analyst for RAND Europe's Security, Defence and Infrastructure team. His book, 'War Plan Taiwan: OPLAN 5077 and the U.S. Struggle for the Pacific', is now available for order: https://www.usni.org/press/books/war-plan-taiwan Contact via rowanallport@gmail.com Follow on Twitter/X via @drrowanallport
©Human Security Centre 2016. All Rights Reserved.