US approves $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, largest ever

TAIPEI/WASHINGTON — The United States on Wednesday approved $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, marking the largest U.S. weapons package ever for the self-ruled island, which is facing growing military pressure from China.

The announcement is the second arms sale to Taiwan under U.S. President Donald Trump’s current administration and comes as Beijing intensifies its military and diplomatic pressure on Taipei. Taiwan’s government has consistently rejected China’s sovereignty claims over the island.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the proposed sale includes eight weapons systems, among them HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munition drones, and spare parts for other military equipment.

“The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defense capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power by leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages,” the ministry said, adding that these efforts are key to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

The arms package is currently at the Congressional notification stage, during which U.S. lawmakers may block or modify the deal, although Taiwan traditionally enjoys strong bipartisan support in Congress.

In separate statements detailing the sale, the U.S. Department of Defense said the weapons package supports U.S. national, economic, and security interests by helping Taiwan modernize its armed forces and maintain a “credible defensive capability.”

At Washington’s urging, Taiwan has been restructuring its military to focus on asymmetric warfare, emphasizing mobile, smaller, and cost-effective weapons systems such as drones that can counter larger invading forces.

“Our country will continue to promote defense reforms, strengthen whole-of-society defense resilience, and demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves,” Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said, thanking the United States for its continued support.

Last month, President Lai Ching-te announced a $40 billion supplementary defense budget covering the years 2026 to 2033, stating that there was “no room for compromise on national security.”

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, said weapons such as HIMARS — widely used by Ukraine against Russian forces — could play a crucial role in countering a potential Chinese invasion.

“This record-setting bundle of congressional notifications reflects both the growing threat from China and the Trump administration’s demand that partners take greater responsibility for their own defense,” he said.

FOREIGN MINISTER’S U.S. VISIT

The arms sale followed an unannounced visit by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Washington area last week, where he met with U.S. officials, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Reuters was unable to confirm the agenda of the meetings, and Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment.

While Washington maintains formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, it has longstanding unofficial ties with Taiwan and remains the island’s most important arms supplier. Under U.S. law, Washington is required to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though such sales remain a major source of tension with China.

Concerns have surfaced in the region over President Trump’s deal-making approach and his planned visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping next year, raising fears of potential shifts in U.S. support for Taiwan.

However, U.S. officials told Reuters earlier this year that the administration plans to increase weapons sales to Taiwan beyond levels seen during Trump’s first term as part of efforts to deter China.

The Trump administration’s national security strategy released this month emphasized deterring conflict over Taiwan by “preserving military overmatch” against China, language that was welcomed in Taipei. The strategy also underscored Taiwan’s strategic importance due to its location between Northeast and Southeast Asia.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory — a claim that Taipei firmly rejects. -Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Michael Martina; Editing by Chris Reese and Michael Perry/Reuters