Billions of dollars in approved U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan are reportedly being delayed as the White House prepares for high-level talks with Beijing next month. According to The New York Times, the Trump administration has slowed movement on a $13 billion defense package amid efforts to manage tensions with China ahead of the president’s April visit.

The proposed sale, which had cleared initial review after being submitted by the State Department in January, includes interceptor missiles for Patriot air-defense systems, anti-drone equipment, and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, known as NASAMS. U.S. officials told the Times the delay is intended to avoid escalating friction with Chinese leader Xi Jinping before the summit.

The State Department declined to comment directly on the pending transaction but said in a statement that the United States’ longstanding commitment to Taiwan remains unchanged. For more than four decades, U.S. policy has supported Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities under the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act.

During a recent phone call between Trump and Xi, the Chinese president reportedly warned that arms transfers to Taiwan must be handled “with extreme caution,” calling the issue the most important factor in U.S.-China relations. Beijing maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has repeatedly opposed foreign military support for the island.

On Feb. 16, President Donald Trump acknowledged he was weighing how to proceed with the sale, noting Xi’s objections while emphasizing that discussions were ongoing. A prior diplomatic understanding known as the Six Assurances states that the United States will not consult with China regarding arms sales to Taiwan.

Trump administration officials are seeking to preserve a fragile trade truce with Beijing while maintaining leverage in broader negotiations. Chinese officials have reportedly floated the possibility of expanded economic cooperation, including significant purchases of U.S. Treasury securities, in exchange for public opposition to Taiwanese independence.

The reported delay underscores the balancing act facing Washington as it navigates strategic competition with China while supporting Taiwan’s defense amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.