U.S. President Donald Trump withheld approval of a planned arms package for Taiwan, the Washington Post revealed Friday, citing five individuals briefed on the matter. A White House official stressed, however, that no final decision has been made.

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The proposed deal—valued at over $400 million—was described as significantly more advanced and “more lethal” than earlier transfers.

According to the report, the hesitation is tied to Trump’s broader strategy of seeking a trade accord with Beijing, as well as a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit set for next month in South Korea.

Beijing, which regards the island as an inseparable part of its territory, firmly rejects any external involvement in Taipei’s affairs, with Xi reiterating that China’s goal is peaceful reunification.

Washington has approved several arms sales to Taiwan in recent years, including the delivery of NASAMS air-defense missile systems.

In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in May that it “firmly opposes U.S. arms sales to China’s Taiwan region.” and called on Washington to “stop selling arms to Taiwan and stop creating factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait”

The statement concluded by reaffirming that “China will continue to firmly defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

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