China’s Ministry of Defense says Beijing will step up military drills and take “firm measures” to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, following the United States’ announcement of an $11.1 billion arms sale package for Taiwan. If approved, the deal would be the largest of its kind in the history of U.S.-Taiwan relations.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the proposed package includes eight different categories of weapons, among them HIMARS multiple rocket launch systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munitions (so-called kamikaze drones), as well as spare parts for other military equipment.
The arms package still requires approval by the U.S. Congress. However, given Taiwan’s strong bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, the decision-making process is expected to face few obstacles.
In separate statements, the Pentagon stressed that the assistance is aimed at strengthening asymmetric defense capabilities, focusing on smaller, mobile, and technologically advanced systems. U.S. officials argue this approach is key to maintaining peace and stability in the region. Washington says the arms deliveries will help modernize Taiwan’s military and preserve “credible defensive capabilities,” aligning directly with U.S. national, economic, and security interests in countering China’s influence.
These priorities are also reflected in the U.S. National Security Strategy published earlier this month, which highlights Taiwan’s strategic importance as a geographic linchpin dividing Northeast and Southeast Asia into two distinct strategic zones.
Adding to regional tensions, Taiwan’s president announced last month that the island plans to allocate an additional $40 billion in defense spending between 2026 and 2033. President Lai Ching-te stated that “there is no room for compromise when it comes to national security.”
Meanwhile, despite concerns sparked by President Donald Trump’s deal-focused foreign policy and a planned visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping next year, developments on the ground suggest the opposite direction. Republicans are planning to increase arms sales to Taiwan to levels that would exceed even those seen during Trump’s first term. This is further reinforced by Trump’s signing of an annual defense policy bill worth nearly $1 trillion. The legislation allocates $1 billion to the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative and authorizes U.S. forces to continue military training activities on the island.
At the same time, Taiwan’s democratically elected government firmly rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, insisting that decisions about the island’s future belong solely to the Taiwanese people. China, however, continues to refuse talks with President Lai, labeling him a “separatist,” and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control over Taiwan.
Author: Sesili Adamia
