US announces massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced a massive arms sales package to Taiwan worth more than $10 billion, including medium-range missiles, howitzers and unmanned aerial vehicles, drawing an angry reaction from China.
The State Department announced the sales late Wednesday. address broadcast on national television By President Donald Trump, who has talked little about foreign policy issues and nothing about China or Taiwan. US-China tensions have ebbed and flowed during Trump’s second term, largely over trade and tariffs, but also because of China’s increasing aggression against Taiwan, which Beijing says should be reunified with the mainland.
The eight arms sales deals announced Wednesday include 82 high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) — similar to what the U.S. provided to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia during the Biden administration — valued at more than $4 billion. These also include 60 self-propelled howitzer systems and related equipment worth more than $4 billion, and unmanned aerial vehicles worth more than $1 billion.
Other sales in the package include military software worth more than $1 billion, Javelin and TOW missiles worth more than $700 million, helicopter spare parts worth more than $96 million, and Harpoon missile replacement kits worth more than $91 million.
In separate but nearly identical statements, the State Department said the sales “serve the national, economic, and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient’s efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defense capability.”
“The proposed sale(s) will help increase the security of the buyer and help maintain political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region,” the statement said.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs attacked the move, saying it would violate diplomatic agreements between China and the United States; will seriously harm China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity; and undermines regional stability.
“The ‘Taiwan independence’ forces on the island seek independence by force and resist reunification by force, squandering the people’s hard-earned money on purchasing weapons, at the expense of turning Taiwan into a powder keg,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
“This cannot save the inevitable fate of ‘Taiwan independence’, but will only accelerate the Taiwan Strait’s march towards a dangerous state of military conflict and war. US support for ‘Taiwan Independence’ through arms will only backfire. Using Taiwan to contain China will not succeed,” he added.
Under federal law, the United States is obligated to assist Taiwan in self-defense; This is an increasingly controversial issue with China, which has vowed to take Taiwan by force if necessary.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said Thursday it expressed gratitude to the United States for the arms sale, which it said would help Taiwan maintain “adequate defense capabilities” and bring strong deterrent capabilities. Strengthening Taiwan’s defense “is the basis for maintaining regional peace and stability,” the ministry said.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung similarly thanked the United States for its “long-term support for regional security and Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities” and said they were key to deterring a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, the body of water separating Taiwan from mainland China.
Arms sales took place as promised by the Taiwanese government increase defense spending It is expected to reach 3.3 percent of the island’s gross domestic product next year and 5 percent by 2030. This increase comes after Trump and the Pentagon demanded that Taiwan spend 10 percent of its GDP on defense; That’s well above what the United States or any of its major allies spend on defense. The request was rejected by Taiwan’s opposition KMT party and some of the party’s people.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te announced last month 40 billion dollar special budget For arms purchases, including building an air defense system with high-end detection and response capabilities called Taiwan Dome. The budget will be allocated for eight years, from 2026 to 2033.
The US’s increase in military aid to Taiwan was brought to the fore in the law passed by Congress and which Trump is expected to sign soon.
Last week, the Chinese embassy in Washington condemned the legislation known as the “China Law.” National Defense Authorization ActHe said it unfairly targeted China as the aggressor. The US Senate passed the bill on Wednesday.
___
Mistreanu reported from Beijing. AP video reporters Olivia Zhang in Beijing and Johnson Lai in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
