Nikkei wrote from Washington that it has learned from informed sources that the United States and Taiwan held a bilateral strategic dialogue between their security officials in the United States last week under a regular framework known as the “Monterey talks.” The paper speculated that Washington and Taipei discussed the details of the United States’ plans to provide weapons amid China’s increasing military pressure on Taiwan. According to the paper, neither party publicly discloses plans for the talks or their details as a general rule. The paper wrote that the Biden administration has repeatedly stated that it will support Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen its capabilities for self-defense and that the U.S. Congress approved in early June a $120 million sale of arms to Taiwan.