US Approves $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan

The United States has approved an arms sale worth $11.1 billion to Taiwan, marking the largest US weapons package ever approved for the island. The decision was announced on Wednesday, as Taiwan faces increasing military pressure from China.

This is the second arms sale to Taiwan under the current administration of US President Donald Trump. It comes at a time when Beijing is stepping up military and diplomatic actions against Taiwan, whose government rejects China’s claim of sovereignty over the island.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said the proposed deal includes eight types of weapons, such as HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munitions (drones), and spare parts for other military equipment.

In a statement, the ministry said the United States continues to support Taiwan in maintaining enough self-defense capabilities and in building strong deterrence forces, which it said are essential for preserving regional peace and stability.

Under US guidance, Taiwan is reshaping its military to focus on asymmetric warfare, relying on smaller, mobile, and often lower-cost weapons—such as drones—that can still deliver precise strikes.

The ministry added that the arms package is currently in the US Congress notification stage, during which lawmakers can block or modify the deal. However, Taiwan generally enjoys strong bipartisan support in Congress.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, a position firmly rejected by Taipei.

In separate statements, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the US State Department had approved potential foreign military sales to Taiwan’s representative office in Washington and had submitted the required certification to Congress.