US approves record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan

The United States has greenlit a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, the biggest weapons sale in the Chinese island’s history, as tensions persist between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Wednesday that the package includes eight proposed deals covering howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius drones, HIMARS rocket systems, military software, and parts for other equipment.

The announcement of the deal by the administration of US President Donald Trump comes amid heightening tensions between Taipei and Beijing and a stated requirement by the island to allocate new "special" funding – worth about $40 billion – to bolster its defensive capabilities.

It marks the Trump administration’s second arms sale to Taiwan, announced against the backdrop of mounting pressure from Beijing. Taiwan continues to reject Beijing’s sovereignty over the island.

The Pentagon said in a series of separate statements announcing details of the arms deal that the weapons sale to Taiwan serves US national, economic, and security interests.

Washington has pressured Taipei to upgrade its armed forces to be able to wage "asymmetric warfare," using mobile, smaller, and often cheaper weapons that still pack a targeted punch, such as drones.

China: 'US seriously violating the one-China principle'

China has strongly condemned the US decision to provide Taiwan with military aid as a serious violation of the “one-China principle.”

Chinese Taipei's Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo thanked the United States for the weapons.

"Our country will continue to advance defense reforms, strengthen the defense resilience of the entire society, demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves, and protect peace with strength," she said.

Chinese Taipei's separatist leader, Lai Ching-te, announced last month an additional defense budget of $40 billion for the period from 2026 to 2033. "There is no room for compromise on national security," she claimed.

China is opposed to the sales of weapons to Chinese Taipei, emphasizing that the move is against international law.

China has repeatedly expressed its opposition not only to arms sales but also to any form of official diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan. 

Taiwan to receive $330 million worth of military equipment from US

The US has approved he approval of a military sale to Taiwan valued at about $330 million.

Beijing has not reacted to the latest US announcement. However, on Wednesday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said that it opposed efforts by the US Congress to pass bills “related to Taiwan and firmly opposes any form of military contact between the US and Taiwan.”

“We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques: Stop ‘arming Taiwan’, stop reviewing relevant bills, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs,” the office’s spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in a statement.

Zhu said Taiwan’s political leaders were pursuing “independence”, and were “willing to let external forces turn the island into a ‘war porcupine’,” which could result in the population becoming “cannon fodder” and “slaughtered at will, which is despicable.”

Beijing says under the internationally-recognized “One-China” principle, also accepted by the United States, Beijing is the only official representative of the Chinese nation.

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