The United States has announced its largest-ever arms sales package for Taiwan, approving more than $10 billion in military equipment in a move that has drawn a forceful response from Beijing.
The announcement was made by the State Department late Wednesday during a nationally televised address by President Donald Trump, who did not reference Taiwan or China in his remarks.
The package marks the second arms sale to Taiwan under Trump’s current administration and comes amid fluctuating U.S.-China relations shaped by trade disputes and security concerns in the Taiwan Strait.
The package includes eight separate sales agreements covering advanced weapons systems and support equipment.
Among the approved items are 82 high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 420 army tactical missile systems, 60 self-propelled howitzers, multiple drone platforms, military software, anti-tank missiles, helicopter spare parts, and refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles.
The Pentagon stated that the sales serve U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting Taiwan’s efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a “credible defensive capability.”
The package must still receive approval from the U.S. Congress, where Taiwan’s security has historically received broad bipartisan support.
Taiwan’s defense ministry welcomed the decision, stating that the equipment would help the island sustain sufficient self-defense capabilities and strengthen deterrence.
China’s foreign ministry condemned the announcement, arguing that the sales violate diplomatic agreements and undermine regional stability.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warned that the move would accelerate tensions and push the Taiwan Strait toward military confrontation.
Taiwan’s government has pledged to increase defense spending in response to mounting pressure, including a proposed $40 billion supplementary budget running from 2026 to 2033.
President Lai Ching-te has faced legislative resistance to parts of the defense funding plan, with opposition lawmakers blocking key authorization bills.
The arms announcement follows heightened diplomatic engagement between Taipei and Washington, even as uncertainty persists over the long-term trajectory of U.S.-China-Taiwan relations.