US announces $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, largest ever

The package includes HIMARS, howitzers, Javelins, Altius drones and spare parts, Taiwan said

The Trump administration announced on Wednesday $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest-ever US weapons package for the island, which is under increasing military pressure from China.

The announcement marks the second Taiwan arms sale under US President Donald Trump’s current administration and comes as Beijing ramps up military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan, whose government rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

The proposed sales cover eight items, including HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munition drones and spare parts for other equipment, Taiwan’s defence ministry said in a statement.

“The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power and leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages, which form the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability,” the ministry added.

The package must be approved by the US Congress, where Taiwan enjoys broad bipartisan support.

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

Pushed by the United States, Taiwan has been working to transform its military to wage “asymmetric warfare”, relying on mobile, smaller and often cheaper weapons such as drones that can deliver targeted strikes.

“Our country will continue to promote defence reforms, strengthen whole-of-society defence resilience, demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves, and safeguard peace through strength,” Taiwan presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo said, thanking the United States for the sales.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te last month announced a $40 billion supplementary defence budget for 2026–2033, saying there was “no room for compromise on national security”.

China’s foreign ministry condemned the deal, saying it “severely undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait” and demanded an end to US arms sales to Taiwan.

“By aiding ‘Taiwan independence’ with weapons, the US side will only bring fire upon itself; using Taiwan to contain China is absolutely doomed to fail,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in Beijing.

Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US–Taiwan Business Council, said systems such as HIMARS, widely used by Ukraine against Russian forces, could play a crucial role in repelling a Chinese invasion.

“This bundle of congressional notifications, a record in US security assistance for Taiwan, is a response to the threat from China and the demand from Mr. Trump that partners and allies do more to secure their own defence,” he said.

Foreign minister’s visit

The announcement followed an unannounced trip by Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Washington area last week to meet US officials, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Reuters was unable to determine the agenda of the meetings, and Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment.

Washington maintains formal diplomatic ties with Beijing but has unofficial relations with Taiwan and is the island’s most important arms supplier. US law requires Washington to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though such sales remain a major source of friction with China.

Trump’s dealmaking approach and his planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next year have raised regional concerns over potential weakening of US support for Taiwan. However, US officials told Reuters early in Trump’s second term that arms sales to Taipei would exceed those of his first term as part of efforts to deter China.

The Trump administration’s national security strategy released earlier this month said the United States aims to deter conflict over Taiwan by “preserving military overmatch” against China in the region, language welcomed in Taipei. The strategy also highlighted Taiwan’s strategic importance due to its location dividing Northeast and Southeast Asia into two strategic theatres.

China views Taiwan as its own territory, a position the government in Taipei rejects.