US delays Taiwan arms sales to protect Xi summit

The United States may postpone announcing major arms sales to Taiwan until after November's Apec summit in Shenzhen, according to multiple sources cited by the South China Morning Post. The delay is tied to Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington next week. Sources said US President Donald Trump could extend the delay until the end of the year. They pointed to a planned bilateral meeting between the two leaders as a key reason. Apec, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, brings together Pacific Rim economies for annual talks on trade and economic policy.