Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Commuters take the Tamsui-Xinyi Line MRT in Taipei, Taiwan in January 2025. Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766039753284viber_image_2025-12-18_14-32-59-611.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Commuters take the Tamsui-Xinyi Line MRT in Taipei, Taiwan in January 2025. Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>TAIPEI — Washington has approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan, Taipei said Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for the island as it seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion.</p><p>While Washington is traditionally Taiwan&#x27;s biggest arms supplier, remarks by US President Donald Trump raised doubts about his willingness to defend the democratic island.</p><p>Taiwan has ramped up its defence spending in the past decade as China has intensified military pressure, but Trump&#x27;s administration has pushed the island to do more to protect itself.</p><p>The arms sale announced on Thursday, which still needs US Congressional approval, would be the second since Trump returned to office in January, after the $330 million sale of parts and components in November.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/11/25/china-s-xi-pushes-taiwan-issue-in-call-with-trump-1222">China&#x27;s Xi pushes Taiwan issue in call with Trump<br/></a></div><p>The latest, much bigger cache features HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, drones and other equipment, according to Taipei&#x27;s foreign ministry.</p><p>&quot;This is the second arms sale to Taiwan announced during the Trump administration&#x27;s second term, once again demonstrating the US&#x27;s firm commitment to Taiwan&#x27;s security,&quot; Taipei&#x27;s foreign ministry said.</p><p>The potential size of the sale rivals the $18 billion authorized under former US president George W. Bush in 2001, although that was ultimately downsized after commercial negotiations.</p><p>Bush ended up selling $15.6 billion-worth of weapons to Taiwan over his eight years in office.</p><p>During Trump&#x27;s first term, the United States approved $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including $8 billion for fighter jets.</p><p>The latest package is expected to soon receive a Congressional rubber stamp, given the cross-party consensus on Taiwan&#x27;s defense.</p><p>Taiwan maintains its own defense industry but the island would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China, and so remains heavily reliant on US arms.</p><p>The latest arms sale shows Washington has continued to assist Taipei in &quot;rapidly building robust deterrence capabilities&quot;, Taiwan&#x27;s defense ministry said in a statement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/10/26/asean-summit-torn-between-china-and-the-us-0947">ASEAN summit: Torn between China and the US<br/></a></div><p>Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te&#x27;s government has vowed to ramp up defense spending to more than three percent of the GDP next year and five percent by 2030, following US pressure.</p><p>It is also plans to seek up to NT$1 trillion in special funding to upgrade the island&#x27;s air defence systems and increase capacity to produce and store ammunition.</p><p>The defense spending proposals need backing from the island&#x27;s opposition-controlled parliament before they can take effect.</p><p>China deploys military aircraft and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, which analysts describe as &quot;grey-zone&quot; operations — coercive tactics that fall short of an act of war.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/7/ph-will-have-to-get-involved-should-all-out-war-erupt-between-us-china-over-taiwan-marcos-0628">PH &#x27;will have to get involved&#x27; should all-out war erupt between US, China over Taiwan - Marcos<br/></a></div><p>Taipei&#x27;s defense ministry said 40 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters, choppers and drones, as well as eight naval vessels, were detected around Taiwan in a 24-hour period ending early Thursday.</p><p>On Tuesday, Beijing&#x27;s third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, according to Taipei.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O1GzrfVozV4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Washington has approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan, Taipei said Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for the island as it seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion.</p>

Washington has approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan, Taipei said Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for the island as it seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion.

US approves $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan — Taipei

US approves $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan — Taipei

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US approves $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan — Taipei

Agence France-Presse

Published Dec 18, 2025 02:43 PM PHT

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