“Response to China Threat”. US Arms Taiwan with HIMARS, Howitzers and Javelin Missiles to Wage 'Asymmetrical' War

The Trump administration has announced $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest US arms package to date for the island under increasing military pressure from China, Reuters reported on Thursday.

The announcement of arms sales to Taiwan is the second under the current administration of US President Donald Trump and comes as Beijing steps up military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

The proposed arms sales cover eight items, including HIMARS missile systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius drones with guided munitions and parts for other equipment, Taiwan's defense ministry said in a statement.

“Asymmetrical Warfare”

“The United States continues to help Taiwan maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities and quickly build a strong deterrent power and capitalize on the advantages of asymmetric warfare, which is the basis of maintaining regional peace and stability,” the ministry added.

The package must be approved by the US Congress, within which Taiwan enjoys broad bipartisan support.

In a series of separate statements announcing details of the arms deal, the Pentagon said the arms sale serves US national, economic and security interests, supporting Taiwan's ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a “credible defensive capability”.

Backed by the United States, Taiwan has pushed to transform its armed forces so that it can wage “asymmetric warfare,” using mobile, smaller and often cheaper weapons that still have accurate striking power, such as drones.

“Our country will continue to promote defense reforms, strengthen the defense resilience of the entire society, demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves and protect peace through force,” Taiwanese presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement, thanking the United States for the sales.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te last month announced an additional $40 billion defense budget for 2026-2033, saying there is “no room for compromise on national security.”

China's Foreign Ministry expressed displeasure, as it does with all US arms sales to Taiwan, saying the deal “seriously undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait” and called for an end to such deals.

“By supporting 'Taiwan independence' with weapons, the US side will only draw fire on itself; using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to failure,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing.

Rupert Hammond-Chambers, chairman of the US-Taiwan Business Council, said weapons like the HIMARS, which have been widely used by Ukraine against Russian forces, could play a key role in destroying an invading Chinese force.

“This package of congressional notifications, a record in US security assistance to Taiwan, is a response to the threat from China and to Mr. Trump's demand that partners and allies do more to ensure their own defense,” he added.

Foreign Minister's visit to the USA

The announcement of the arms sales, made on Wednesday, followed an unannounced visit by Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Washington area last week to meet with US officials, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The news agency notes that it could not determine the agenda of the meetings, and Taiwan's foreign ministry declined to comment.

Washington has official diplomatic relations with Beijing, but maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and is the island's largest arms supplier. The United States is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, although these arms sales are a constant source of tension with China.

Trump's penchant for deal-making and his planned visit to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next year have raised fears in the region of waning US support for Taiwan.

But US officials told Reuters at the start of Trump's second term this year that they had plans to increase arms sales to Taipei beyond Trump's first term as part of efforts to deter China.

The Trump administration's national security strategy, unveiled earlier this month, says the US aims to deter conflict over Taiwan by “maintaining military superiority” over China in the region, language that was well received in Taipei.

The strategy also emphasized Taiwan's strategic importance due to its geographic position, which divides “Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia into two distinct theaters”.

China considers Taiwan to be its territory, a position rejected by Taipei.