The United States has approved one of the largest arms packages ever offered to Taiwan, a move that immediately sparked fierce criticism from China and signaled a deeper shift in the balance of power across the Asia-Pacific.
The deal, valued at more than $10 billion, includes medium-range missiles, artillery systems, drones, software, and other critical equipment designed to modernize Taiwan’s military and strengthen its defensive capabilities. If Congress signs off, this will become the biggest weapons transfer to Taiwan in U.S. history, surpassing the $8.4 billion in sales made under the Biden administration.
The State Department confirmed the agreement Wednesday night during a televised address by President Donald Trump. He avoided mentioning Taiwan or China directly, but the timing and scale of the announcement spoke loudly on their own.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry put the total value at $11.15 billion, spread across eight major contracts. Among the highlights:
- 82 HIMARS rocket systems and 420 ATACMS tactical missiles worth over $4 billion
- 60 self-propelled howitzers and support equipment worth another $4 billion
- Drones valued above $1 billion
- Missile refurbishment kits, helicopter parts, and software systems worth nearly $2 billion combined
According to U.S. officials, the sale is aimed at protecting national security interests while helping Taiwan maintain a credible defense against increasing pressure from Beijing. In a statement, the State Department said the move will bolster military balance and stability across the region.
China reacted within hours — and furiously. Beijing accused Washington of violating diplomatic agreements, sabotaging its sovereignty, and destabilizing East Asia. Officials warned that Taiwan’s push to strengthen its defenses would only lead to greater danger.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the sale as reckless, saying it would “turn Taiwan into a powder keg” and accelerate the risk of war.
Beijing has long insisted that Taiwan must eventually unite with the mainland, by force if necessary. The U.S., meanwhile, is bound by federal law to support Taiwan’s self-defense — a guarantee that grows more complicated each year as China’s military power expands and its rhetoric intensifies.
Taiwan is openly grateful. Its Defense Ministry called the sale a major boost to deterrence and essential to maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung echoed that message, saying U.S. support remains central to preventing conflict.
The arms package aligns with Taiwan’s plan to significantly increase defense spending. The island has already committed to raising military funding to 3.3% of GDP next year, with a long-term goal of reaching 5% by 2030. President Lai Ching-te recently announced a special $40 billion weapons budget to be spent over eight years — money that will go toward air defense upgrades, missile systems, and the island’s new “Taiwan Dome” protection network.
Still, there is tension at home. Some factions in Taiwan have criticized the spending surge, noting that the Trump administration urged defense investment as high as 10% of GDP — a figure far beyond what even the U.S. allocates to its own military.
The latest deal comes alongside legislation passed in Washington that prioritizes closer security cooperation with Taiwan. China has strongly criticized that bill as well, claiming it falsely casts Beijing as an aggressor.
This isn’t just another arms sale. It’s a turning point. A $10 billion military package inevitably shifts calculations in Beijing, Taipei, and Washington — and the world will be watching what comes next.
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