Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that Taiwan “will never be a bargaining chip,” calling it unacceptable that more than US$20 billion (NT$655.7 billion) in approved American arms sales to Taiwan have yet to be delivered.

Speaking at a George Mason University forum titled “Why Taiwan Matters,” Pence urged the new U.S. administration and members of Congress to accelerate the shipments, stressing that as the arsenal of democracy for the Indo-Pacific, the United States must do better.

The remarks came ahead of an expected meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) at the APEC summit. Pence said discussions would likely focus on market access rather than changes to U.S. military posture in the region. Recalling a past meeting with Xi in Papua New Guinea, he said Trump had asked him to deliver two messages: that Trump “liked Xi very much” and that China “must open its markets.”

Pence praised Taiwan for raising its defense budget, saying it showed a clear sense of urgency and resolve for self-defense. However, he emphasized that Taiwan cannot stand alone and depends on timely U.S. support to deter aggression.

Reflecting on his long support for Taiwan since his time in Congress, Pence cited a 1950 memorandum by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who described Formosa as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier and submarine tender” vital to the defense of the Pacific. MacArthur warned that if the island fell into Communist hands, it would become an enemy stronghold threatening the Philippines and Okinawa. Pence said those words remain true today.