TAIPEI
The delay in approving a proposed $14 billion US arms package for Taiwan is affecting defence technology company Anduril’s business, its founder Palmer Luckey said on Saturday, adding another commercial dimension to a decision with wider implications for Washington-Beijing relations.
Luckey made the comments in Taipei, where he attended a defence forum alongside Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. He said he did not know the current status of the package but acknowledged that Anduril’s business with Taiwan would be different if the proposed sales were moving forward.
Anduril already supplies Taiwan with its Altius drone and has become a prominent US defence technology company as autonomous systems and drones gain importance in modern warfare. Taiwan also unveiled the Barracuda-500 autonomous cruise missile last year, developed jointly with Anduril.
The proposed arms package has been awaiting President Donald Trump’s approval for months. Trump put the sale on hold following his May meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and described the package as a “very good negotiating chip”.
Luckey said the impact of the delay extends beyond individual contracts because stalled approvals prevent continued progress in other areas of business. He said he had discussed Taiwan arms sales with Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The issue is particularly sensitive because Beijing opposes US weapons sales to Taiwan and has sanctioned American companies involved in supplying the island. Luckey himself was sanctioned by China last year.
Luckey said the Trump administration was also considering possible economic consequences of additional arms sales, including China’s potential use of its leverage over rare earth materials important to technology companies.
The issue is expected to feature prominently when Trump and Xi meet in Washington next week, amid broader negotiations between the world’s two largest economies.
“It’s definitely affecting the business in that our business with Taiwan would be in a different place if you had that $14 billion moving forward.” Palmer Luckey, Anduril founder
