US approves $11.1 billion arms program for Taiwan, largest in history

The United States has approved $11.1 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan, the largest arms package ever for the island, which is under increasing military pressure from China.

The announcement of arms sales to Taiwan is the second under the current administration of US President Donald Trump, and comes as Beijing steps up military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan, whose government rejects Chinese claims of sovereignty.

The proposed arms sale involves eight items, including HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius attack drones and parts for other equipment, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

“The United States continues to help Taiwan maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities and rapidly build strong deterrence, as well as leverage the advantages of asymmetric warfare, which provide the basis for maintaining regional peace and stability,” the statement added.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs said the package was in the congressional notification phase, where Congress has the ability to block or modify the sale if it wishes, although Taiwan has broad bipartisan support.

In a series of separate statements announcing details of the arms deal, the Pentagon said the arms sales served U.S. national, economic and security interests by supporting Taiwan’s continued efforts to modernize its military and maintain a “credible defensive capability.”

Under the leadership of the United States, Taiwan is striving to transform its armed forces, making them capable of waging “asymmetric warfare”, using mobile weapons, smaller and often cheaper, but with targeted firepower, such as drones.

“Our country will continue to promote defense reforms, strengthen the defense resilience of the entire society, demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves and safeguard peace through force,” Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement, thanking the United States for the sale.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te last month announced an additional $40 billion defense budget, valid from 2026 to 2033, saying “there is no room for concessions on national security.”

China’s Foreign Ministry expressed outrage, as it does with all U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, saying they “seriously undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” and demanded an end to such deals.

“By supporting Taiwan’s independence with weapons, the United States will only invite trouble; using Taiwan to contain China is absolutely doomed to failure,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing.

Rupert Hammond-Chambers, chairman of the US-Taiwan Business Council, said weapons like the HIMARS, widely used by Ukraine against Russian forces, could play a key role in destroying a Chinese invasion force.

“This set of notifications to Congress, a record in U.S. security assistance to Taiwan, is a response to the threat from China and Mr. Trump’s demand that partners and allies do more to ensure their own defense,” he added.

The announcement followed an unannounced trip by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Washington area last week to meet with U.S. officials, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Reuters was unable to determine the agenda of the meetings and Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment.

Washington maintains formal diplomatic relations with Beijing but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island’s main arms supplier. The United States is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, even though these arms sales are a persistent source of friction with China.

Trump’s penchant for negotiations and his planned visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping next year have fueled fears in the region of weakening U.S. support for Taiwan.

But U.S. officials told Reuters at the start of Trump’s second term this year that they planned to increase arms sales to Taipei to a higher level than during Trump’s first term, as part of an effort to deter China.

The Trump administration’s national security strategy, released earlier this month, says the United States aims to prevent conflict over Taiwan by “preserving military superiority” against China in the region, language welcomed in Taipei.

The strategy also highlighted Taiwan’s strategic importance due to its geographic location, which divides “Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia into two distinct theaters.”

China considers Taiwan its own territory, a position Taipei rejects.