A Pentagon official's visit to Beijing is jeopardized by an arms deal with Taiwan.

China is currently blocking a planned visit to Beijing by US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby over talks surrounding a massive $14 billion US arms deal with Taiwan, according to a Financial Times report relayed by Reuters.

According to the British newspaper, Colby had discussed a visit this summer with Chinese officials, but Beijing reportedly indicated that no trip could be approved as long as the American president Donald Trump would not have made a decision on this arms sale.

Reuters notes that it has not been able to independently verify this information. The Pentagon and the Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

After his visit to Beijing last week, Donald Trump said he had not yet made a final decision regarding this major arms sale to Taiwan, fueling questions about American support for the democratically governed island.

On Wednesday, Trump also stated that he planned to speak with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. Such a conversation would be unprecedented between a sitting US president and a Taiwanese leader since the severing of official diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei in 1979.

A direct discussion between the two leaders would risk provoking a strong reaction from Beijing, which considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory.

Despite these tensions, US officials point out that Trump approved more arms sales to Taiwan than any other US president. However, the US president also repeatedly touted his relationship with the Chinese president. Xi Jinpingwhich he describes as "incredible".

Under US law, Washington is obligated to provide Taiwan with the means to ensure its defense. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are therefore urging the Trump administration to continue arms deliveries to the island.