The United States approved $11.1 billion in potential arms sales to Taiwan in a bundle of notifications that Reuters described as the largest-ever U.S. weapons package for the island, as Beijing steps up military pressure and rejects Taipei’s separate governance.
The deal is the second Taiwan arms sale announced under U.S. President Donald Trump’s current administration and is at the congressional notification stage, where lawmakers can block or alter individual proposed sales.
What’s in the package
According to Reuters reporting carried by CBC, Taiwan’s defence ministry said the package covers eight items and includes long‑range fires, artillery, drones and sustainment.
Reuters/CBC said the largest line items include:
- A sale covering 82 HIMARS launchers and 420 ATACMS missiles, described as worth more than $4 billion
- A sale covering 60 M109A7 self‑propelled howitzers and related equipment, also described as worth more than $4 billion
- Drones valued at more than $1 billion
- Military software valued at more than $1 billion
- Javelin and TOW anti‑tank missiles worth more than $700 million
- Helicopter spare parts worth $96 million
- Harpoon missile refurbishment kits worth $91 million
A separate aviation-focused breakdown said the helicopter spares relate to Taiwan’s Bell AH‑1W Cobra attack helicopters.
What Washington and Taipei said
In separate statements outlining the package, the Pentagon said the arms sales serve U.S. national, economic and security interests by supporting Taiwan’s modernization and maintaining a “credible defensive capability,” according to Reuters/CBC.
Taiwan’s presidential office said it would continue defence reforms, strengthen whole‑of‑society resilience and “safeguard peace through strength,” with spokesperson Karen Kuo thanking the United States for the sales, according to Reuters/CBC.
Context: Taiwan’s own spending plans
The package follows Taiwan President Lai Ching‑te’s announcement of a $40‑billion supplementary defence budget to run from 2026 to 2033, according to Reuters/CBC.
Diplomatic backdrop
Reuters/CBC also reported the announcement followed an unannounced visit by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia‑lung to the Washington area last week to meet U.S. officials, though the agenda was not made public and Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment, per Reuters/CBC.
China response
China’s foreign ministry condemned the sale and said it “severely undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” according to Reuters/CBC.
Bottom line
The record $11.1 billion package is anchored by HIMARS/ATACMS and self‑propelled howitzers, but also includes a major drone tranche and aircraft-related sustainment through AH‑1W helicopter spare parts.
