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The Trump administration has approved one of its largest-ever packages of arms sales – worth around $11bn (£8.2bn). taiwanAn angry reaction is coming from China,
Proposed package, which still needs approval US Congresswill exceed all arms sales to Taiwan under President Joe BidenWhich totaled more than $8.38 billion in 19 rounds.
This would be more than half of the $18.3 billion worth of arms sold to Taiwan during this period. donald trumpFirst term in office.
The package was announced nationally late Wednesday by the US State Department President Trump’s televised address, Who made little mention of foreign policy and did not mention China or Taiwan.
The package includes eight arms sales agreements 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and 420 Army tactical missile systems, worth more than $4 billion. These are similar to weapons provided to Ukraine during the Biden administration.
This includes 60 self-propelled howitzer systems and related equipment worth more than $4 billion, as well as Altius loitering drones worth more than $1 billion.
The comprehensive package will also include military software worth more than $1 billion, Javelin and TOW missiles worth more than $700 million, helicopter spare parts worth $96 million and upgrade kits for Harpoon missiles worth $91 million.
If approved, the package will be marked with a Providing major military aid to the self-ruled democratic islandWhich says it is preparing for an “imminent invasion” by China.
China considers Taiwan an inalienable part of its territory and insists the island of 23 million people will eventually integrate with the mainlandBy force if necessary. Beijing has increased pressure on Taiwan through regular military exercises in nearby waters and airspace.
The US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but follows a policy of “strategic ambiguity”, whereby Washington does not explicitly promise to defend the island while continuing to supply it with defensive weapons.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry on Thursday welcomed the package and thanked the US, saying that if approved, it would help the island “rapidly build stronger deterrent capabilities”.
“Strengthening Taiwan’s own defense is the foundation of maintaining regional peace and stability,” the ministry said.
The State Department said the sale serves “US national, economic, and security interests” by supporting Taiwan’s efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability.
“The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region,” it said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry attacked the US for the package that would “undermine regional stability” and said it would not “save the disastrous fate of Taiwan’s independence”.
The latest U.S. arms sales “will accelerate Taiwan’s push toward war threats,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.
He said the Taiwan issue is a “red line that should not be crossed in China-US relations.”
He said, “American support for ‘Taiwan independence’ through weapons will have the opposite effect. Using Taiwan to contain China will not be successful.”
it comes next Trump plans to visit China In April and efforts to reduce the tensions ignited by the leaders of both countries Trump’s trade war On global economies.
It also coincides with Taiwan President Lai Ching-tey’s efforts to push forward an annual budget and additional defense budget to increase defense spending to 3 percent of the island’s gross domestic product next year and to 3 percent by 2030.
This demand has faced opposition from Taiwan’s opposition KMT party and some of its population.
Last month, Taiwan’s president announced a special budget of $40 billion for weapons purchases, including the construction of an air defense system with high-end detection and interception capabilities called Taiwan Dome. The budget will be allocated over eight years from 2026 to 2033.