The United States has approved a major arms sales package to Taiwan worth up to $11 billion, one of the largest in recent years, a move likely to provoke a strong response from Beijing.
The approvals, announced late on Wednesday by the US State Department, cover a wide range of military equipment designed to strengthen Taiwan’s defences, including missiles, drones and artillery systems.
Among the largest items is the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), valued at up to $4.05 billion, alongside self-propelled howitzers worth around $4 billion.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said the total value of the package could reach $11.154 billion, although the State Department stressed that the final figure would be lower depending on budget authority and operational requirements.
One of the biggest US efforts to bolster Taiwan
Taken together, the deal represents one of Washington’s most significant efforts in recent years to enhance Taiwan’s ability to deter potential Chinese aggression.
While President Donald Trump has at times criticised Taiwan, including claims during his re-election campaign that it should pay the US for protection and accusations that it undercut America’s semiconductor industry, his administrations have consistently pushed forward major weapons sales.
During Trump’s first term, the US issued 22 military sales notifications to Taiwan worth $18.65 billion, including backlogged cases and funding to maintain existing systems. That compares with around $8.7 billion approved during the Biden administration, according to a 2024 report by the Cato Institute.
The largest deal of Trump’s first term came in 2019, when the US approved an $8 billion sale of 66 F-16 fighter jets. The aircraft are only now entering production, highlighting long delays in US arms deliveries, partly due to competing demands such as supplying Ukraine.
“This is a comprehensive package that includes different weapon systems and will enhance Taiwan’s existing defence capabilities,” said Lin Ying-yu, an associate professor at Tamkang University in Taipei.
Strain on US, China relations
US arms sales to Taiwan have long angered Beijing, and the latest package risks further straining an already fragile relationship between Washington and China.
The approval comes less than two months after President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in South Korea, where they agreed to a one-year truce in their ongoing trade dispute. As part of that agreement, China ensured US access to rare earth materials critical for manufacturing technologies ranging from smartphones to advanced weapons.
In a call last month, Xi told Trump that Taiwan’s reunification with China was an “integral part of the postwar international order”, underlining the island’s central role in US–China tensions.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trade talks and rising regional tension
The arms deal also lands as the US and Taiwan attempt to negotiate a separate trade agreement. Over the summer, Trump imposed a 20 per cent levy on Taiwanese goods, and talks have so far failed to reduce the tariff, something Japan and South Korea have already secured.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary, a position firmly rejected by Taipei. Since President Lai Ching-te took office in May 2024, Beijing has intensified military pressure on the island.
Earlier this year, China conducted two days of large-scale military exercises, saying they tested the People’s Liberation Army’s ability to impose a blockade and carry out precision strikes on simulated targets including ports and energy infrastructure.
Taiwan accelerates defence preparations
Taiwan has responded by stepping up its own defence readiness. This year, the island held its largest military exercises ever, announced plans for an advanced air defence system known as T-Dome, and pledged to increase defence spending in 2026.
Taipei has also proposed spending an additional $40 billion on defence between 2026 and 2033, although the plan has been temporarily blocked by opposition lawmakers.
The HIMARS system is the most significant component of the latest US sale. In May, Taiwan carried out its first live-fire test of the platform, which has proven highly effective in Ukraine’s defence against Russia.
The system can fire missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometres, putting targets along China’s southeastern coast within reach and significantly improving Taiwan’s strike precision and reach.
In a statement, the State Department said the HIMARS sale supports US national security interests by helping Taiwan “modernise its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability”, adding that it would help preserve regional stability and military balance.
First sale of battlefield network software
The package also marks the first time the US has sold Taiwan its Tactical Mission Network software, valued at approximately $1.01 billion.
The system provides commanders with real-time battlefield information and allows units to rapidly share data during operations.
“It will allow different units within Taiwan’s armed forces to rapidly exchange information and enhance battlefield situational awareness,” said Jack Chen, director of the advocacy group Formosa Defense Vision. He added that the software would help Taiwan move closer to a fully integrated operational picture.
