The United States has announced a proposed $11bn (£8.2bn) weapons sale to Taiwan, one of the largest arms packages ever offered to the island, further heightening tensions with China.
The deal, subject to approval by the US Congress, includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), self-propelled howitzers and a range of advanced missiles. It is the second arms sale to Taiwan since President Donald Trump returned to office in January.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence welcomed the move, saying it would strengthen the island’s ability to build “rapid and robust deterrence capabilities” in the face of growing regional threats.
China swiftly condemned the announcement, warning that it “severely undermines China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.” Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has repeatedly vowed to reunify with the island, by force if necessary.
According to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency, the package includes roughly $4 billion worth of HIMARS and another $4 billion in self-propelled howitzers. If approved, the deal would surpass the total value of the 19 arms sales to Taiwan approved under the previous US administration, which amounted to $8.38 billion.
The US State Department said the sale supports Taiwan’s efforts to modernise its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability, while advancing Washington’s strategic interests in the region.
China has intensified military pressure on Taiwan in recent years through frequent drills and air and naval incursions. In response, Taiwan plans to raise defence spending to more than 3 per cent of GDP next year and up to 5 per cent by 2030.
Regional tensions have also spilt over, with recent confrontations involving Japan and China, underscoring growing instability across the Taiwan Strait and the wider Asia-Pacific.
