The United States on Wednesday (December 18) approved a landmark US$11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, marking the largest-ever weapons sale to the self-ruled island as it faces mounting military and diplomatic pressure from China. The move underscores Washington’s commitment to bolstering Taiwan’s defence capabilities at a time of heightened cross-strait tensions and renewed geopolitical uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific.
The announcement represents the second arms sale to Taiwan under US President Donald Trump’s current administration. It comes as Beijing has intensified military drills around the island, increased air and naval patrols near Taiwan’s air defence identification zone, and sought to further isolate Taipei on the global stage. Taiwan’s government has consistently rejected China’s claims of sovereignty, asserting that only the island’s people can decide their future.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence, the proposed arms package includes eight major categories of weapons and support systems. Among the most prominent items are High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), advanced howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munition drones, and spare parts and logistical support for existing military equipment.
In a statement, the ministry said the sale reflects continued US support for Taiwan’s right to self-defence. “The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power and leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages, which form the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability,” it said.
The arms sale has entered the Congressional notification phase, during which the US Congress has the authority to review, modify, or block the deal. However, given the strong bipartisan support for Taiwan in Washington, significant opposition is considered unlikely.
In a series of separate statements detailing the package, the Pentagon said the proposed sales align with US national, economic, and security interests. They are intended to support Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain what the US described as a “credible defensive capability” in the face of growing regional threats.
Under sustained encouragement from Washington, Taiwan has in recent years focused on reshaping its military doctrine around the concept of “asymmetric warfare.” This strategy prioritises mobile, survivable, and often lower-cost systems—such as drones, precision rockets, and anti-armor weapons—that can impose heavy costs on a larger invading force. The HIMARS system, in particular, has drawn attention for its battlefield effectiveness in Ukraine, where it has been used to strike high-value targets behind enemy lines.
“Our country will continue to promote defence reforms, strengthen whole-of-society defence resilience, demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves, and safeguard peace through strength,” Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement. She expressed gratitude to the United States for its continued security support.
The announcement also comes against the backdrop of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s recent decision to significantly boost defence spending. Last month, Lai unveiled a US$40 billion supplementary defence budget covering the period from 2026 to 2033, declaring that there was “no room for compromise on national security.” The proposed spending increase reflects growing concern in Taipei over China’s rapidly expanding military capabilities and increasingly assertive posture toward Taiwan.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the arms sale. Historically, Beijing has strongly opposed US weapons transfers to Taiwan, viewing them as violations of the “one China” principle and interference in its internal affairs. Past arms sales have often prompted diplomatic protests, sanctions against US defence firms, and increased Chinese military activity near the island.
Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, described the package as a significant step in strengthening Taiwan’s deterrence. He noted that systems such as HIMARS could play a crucial role in countering a potential amphibious invasion by Chinese forces. “This bundle of congressional notifications, a record in US security assistance for Taiwan, is a response to the threat from China and the demand from Mr Trump that partners and allies do more to secure their own defence,” he said.
The arms sale announcement followed an unannounced visit by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Washington area last week, where he reportedly met with US officials. Two sources familiar with the matter said the meetings took place under conditions of anonymity. Reuters was unable to determine the agenda, and Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment.
The United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, having recognised the People’s Republic of China in 1979. However, Washington remains Taiwan’s most important international supporter and its primary arms supplier. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, US law obliges Washington to provide Taipei with the means to defend itself, though arms sales remain a persistent source of friction in US-China relations.
Concerns have periodically surfaced in the region over President Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy and his stated intention to visit Chinese President Xi Jinping next year. Some analysts fear this could lead to a weakening of US support for Taiwan. However, US officials told Reuters earlier this year that the administration planned to ramp up weapons sales to Taiwan beyond levels seen during Trump’s first term as part of a broader strategy to deter China.
The Trump administration’s national security strategy, unveiled earlier this month, reaffirmed the US goal of preventing conflict over Taiwan by “preserving military overmatch” against China in the region. The document also highlighted Taiwan’s strategic significance, noting that its location effectively divides Northeast and Southeast Asia into two distinct theatres.
China continues to view Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim that Taiwan firmly rejects. As military competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific, Wednesday’s arms sale signals that Taiwan’s security remains a central and contentious issue in US-China relations.
