By AFP and Focus | 2025-12-19

TAIPEI -- The United States has announced a sweeping arms sales package to Taiwan worth over $11 billion, which includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, arousing an angry response from China. Washington is traditionally Taiwan's biggest arms supplier.

Taiwan has ramped up its defense spending in the past decade as China has intensified military pressure, but Donald Trump's administration has pushed the island to do more to protect itself.

2nd US arms sale to Taiwan this year

The arms sale announced on December 18, which still needs Congressional approval, would be the second since Trump returned to office in January, after a $330 million sale of parts in November.

In separate but similar statements, the State Department said the sales advance "U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability," according to the Associated Press.

"The proposed sale(s) will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region," the statements said.

The latest, much bigger cache features High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), howitzers, antitank missiles, drones and other equipment, according to Taipei's Foreign Ministry.

This second arms sale to Taiwan by this US administration demonstrates again "the US's firm commitment to Taiwan's security," the ministry said.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry December 18 thanked the United States for the arms sale, saying in a statement it would help the island maintain "sufficient self-defense capabilities." Reinforcing Taiwan's defenses "is the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability," the ministry said.

Anger from Beijing

Beijing immediately condemned the sale announcement.

"China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle... and immediately stop the dangerous actions of arming Taiwan," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize the self-ruled island.

The potential size of the sale rivals the $18 billion authorized under former US president George W. Bush in 2001, although that package was ultimately downsized after commercial negotiations.

Bush ended up selling $15.6 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan over his eight years in office.

During Trump's first term (2017-2021), the United States approved $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including $8 billion for fighter jets.

Congressional approval likely

The latest package is expected to soon receive a Congressional rubber stamp, given the bipartisan US consensus on Taiwan's defense.

Taiwan maintains its own defense industry, but the island would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China and so remains heavily reliant on US arms.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's government has vowed to ramp up defense spending to more than 3% of the GDP next year and 5% by 2030, following US pressure.

It is also plans to seek up to 1 trillion TWD ($31.7 billion) in special funding to upgrade the island's air defense systems and increase capacity to produce and store ammunition.

The defense spending proposals need backing from the island's opposition-controlled parliament before they can take effect.

China deploys warplanes and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, which analysts describe as "gray-zone" operations -- coercive tactics that fall short of war.

Forty Chinese military aircraft, including fighters, choppers and drones, as well as eight naval vessels, were detected around Taiwan in a 24-hour period ending early December 18, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said.

On December 16, Beijing's third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, according to Taipei.