China stalls Pentagon visit amid Taiwan arms dispute

China is withholding approval for a visit by a senior Pentagon official as it pressures the United States over a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan. The delay affects a proposed summer trip by Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby, according to the Financial Times.

Colby discussed a summer visit with Chinese officials to maintain military-to-military communication. However, Beijing signaled it cannot approve the trip until a decision is reached on the pending weapons sale, people familiar with the talks said.