US approves $11.1bn arms package for Taiwan, defying Beijing warnings

The United States has approved $11.1bn in arms sales to Taiwan, one of the largest weapons packages Washington has ever authorised for the self-ruled island claimed by China.

The US State Department announced the deal late on Wednesday, timed with a nationally televised address by President Donald Trump, underscoring the political weight of the decision.

The package includes 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) worth more than $4bn. The systems are similar to those supplied by the US to Ukraine to counter Russian aerial and missile attacks.

Also included are 60 self-propelled howitzer artillery systems and related equipment valued at more than $4bn, along with drones worth over $1bn.

Additional components of the deal cover military software priced at more than $1bn, Javelin and TOW missiles worth over $700m, helicopter spare parts valued at $96m, and refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles costing $91m.

In a series of statements outlining the deal, the Pentagon said the sales advance US national, economic and security interests by supporting Taiwan’s efforts to modernise its armed forces and maintain a “credible defensive capability”.

Taiwan’s defence ministry welcomed the announcement, saying the United States “continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power”.

Presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo said Taiwan would continue reforming its defence sector and “strengthen whole-of-society defence resilience” to “demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves, and safeguard peace through strength”.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but the deal is expected to further inflame tensions with Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office reiterated its opposition to US-Taiwan military ties on Wednesday.

“We urge the US to abide by the one China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques: Stop ‘arming Taiwan’, stop reviewing relevant bills, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs,” spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said.