The United States has approved a $330 million arms sale to Taiwan, marking the first such transfer since President Donald Trump's return to office. The package includes spare parts for F-16 jets and other aircraft to bolster Taiwan's defenses against Chinese pressure. This move reaffirms U.S. commitment amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
On Thursday, the U.S. State Department greenlit a $330 million arms sale to Taiwan, focusing on spare and repair parts for the island's F-16 fighter jets, C-130 transport aircraft, and other military planes. This transaction represents the first U.S. arms transfer to Taiwan since Trump assumed office in January 2025, underscoring Washington's ongoing support despite escalating Chinese military activities.
The Pentagon emphasized the deal's importance, stating it is vital for maintaining the operational readiness of Taiwan’s air fleet and improving its capacity to meet “current and future threats.” These enhancements aim to counter China's frequent “gray-zone” incursions, which involve non-combat tactics like near-daily aerial and maritime patrols testing Taiwan's defenses.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense anticipates the sale taking effect within a month and praised the U.S. for sustaining a regularized schedule of support. Taipei’s presidential office expressed gratitude, describing the deepening defense partnership as a cornerstone of peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
Beijing reacted strongly, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry declaring the “Taiwan question” as the “first red line” in China-U.S. relations. It labeled the sale a serious violation of the one-China principle and the three bilateral joint communiqués, warning that such actions interfere in China's internal affairs and damage its sovereignty. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has previously sanctioned U.S. defense firms like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics over similar sales.
This approval aligns with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which obligates the U.S. to provide defensive weapons while maintaining unofficial relations. It follows recent packages, including $75 million in February 2024 and $385 million in November 2024, addressing a $21 billion delivery backlog as of early 2025. The decision comes after the 24th U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference in Maryland, where officials forecasted record arms sales in 2026 if Taiwan's defense budget exceeds 3% of GDP.