US to sell over $11B worth of weapons to Taiwan
The United States said Wednesday it has approved a potential sale of weapons and related equipment worth more than $11 billion to Taiwan, at a time when the self-governing democratic island faces increased military pressure from China.
The US package covers eight weapons systems, including the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, known as Himars, and Javelin antitank missiles, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which notified Congress of the plan following the Department of State’s decision.
The plan is almost certain to anger China, which views Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the total value of the proposed arms sale is about $11.1 billion. In a statement, the ministry expressed “sincere gratitude” for the US decision.
The weapons sale announcement is the second and the largest of its kind since President Donald Trump returned to office in January.
In addition to 82 Himars and more than 1,000 Javelin missiles, the package includes 60 self-propelled howitzer systems and related equipment valued at over $4 billion.
The US announcement came as Trump seeks to maintain a relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the sake of economic cooperation, and when he has avoided addressing sensitive topics in the US-China relationship, such as Taiwan.
Existential threat
Also, it came as China maintains its hard-line stance against Japan in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting in November that an attack on Taiwan could constitute an existential threat to her country and warrant a response from its forces to exercise the right of collective self-defense with the United States.
In 1979, the United States switched its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing. But under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington remains committed to unofficial ties with Taipei and is allowed to assist the island in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability.
“The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s ability to meet current and future threats by enhancing the self-defense of its forces,” the US agency said, adding it will “not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
