The United States has approved a weapons sale package to Taiwan worth over $1.1 billion, including the HIMARS system, amid risks of increased tensions with China.
On December 18, 2025, at 6:06 a.m., Bloomberg News reported that The United States has approved an arms sales package to Taiwan worth up to $11,000 billion. This is one of the most valuable arms deals ever, which is likely to provoke a strong retaliation from China.
The approval, announced late Wednesday by the U.S. State Department, covers a wide range of military equipment, including missiles, drones, and artillery systems. Aiming to strengthen Taiwan's national defense capabilities, the package includes the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), valued at up to $4.05 billion, and self-propelled artillery worth approximately $4 billion.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense Mourinho stated in a separate statement that...The total value of this arms sale is a record high of $1.1154 billion, while the U.S. State Department stated that the final figure could be lower depending on the approved budget and military needs.
Overall, this arms sale is considered one of Washington's most significant efforts in recent years to militarily strengthen Taiwan to deter Chinese aggression. Despite President Donald Trump's past criticisms of Taiwan—including his second-term campaign statement that Taiwan should pay the U.S. for protection and his accusations of stealing America's chip industry—both his administrations continued to push for arms deals with Taiwan.
During Trump's first term, the U.S. reported a total of 22 arms sales to Taiwan, worth $1.865 billion, including outstanding cases and funding for maintenance of existing systems. In comparison, under Joe Biden's administration, the value of arms sales to Taiwan was approximately $8.7 billion, according to a 2567 report by the Cato Institute.
The largest arms deal during Trump's first term occurred in 2562, the sale of 66 F-16 fighter jets for $8 billion. This reflected delays in U.S. arms deliveries, partly due to the allocation of weapons to Ukraine in its war with Russia. The aircraft only began rolling off the U.S. production line this year.
Lin Ying-yu, an associate professor from the Graduate School of International Affairs and Strategy at Tamkang University in Taipei. said "This is a comprehensive package encompassing various types of weapons systems and will enhance Taiwan's existing defense capabilities."
The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have consistently angered China, and this latest package risks further straining already fragile relations between the US and China. It comes less than two months after Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Trump met in South Korea and agreed to a one-year truce in their trade war. Under that agreement, China guaranteed the U.S. access to rare earth minerals crucial to industries ranging from smartphones to missiles.
In a phone conversation last month, Xi Jinping told Trump that Taiwan's return to China is an inseparable part of the post-war world order, reflecting that Taiwan will continue to be a key point of contention in U.S.-China relations.
This arms sale also comes at a time when Taiwan and the United States are trying to negotiate a trade agreement. Last summer, Trump imposed a 20% tariff on imports from Taiwan, and months of negotiations have failed to reduce that tariff, unlike Japan and South Korea, which have already reached agreements with the US.
China views Taiwan as a separatist province that must be brought back under its control, even by force if necessary—a position that the Taipei government vehemently rejects. China has increased military pressure on Taiwan, home to 23 million people, since Prime Minister Lai Ching-te took office in May 2567.
Earlier this year, China conducted two days of military exercises, saying they were testing the People's Liberation Army's ability to blockade and precisely strike targets, including ports and energy infrastructure.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te responded by accelerating the island's emergency preparedness. This year, Taiwan conducted its largest-ever military exercise, announced plans to build a high-value air defense system called the T-Dome, and pledged to increase its defense budget by 2569.
Taipei also indicated it would spend an additional $40,000 billion on military spending between 2569 and 2576; however, this plan was temporarily suspended by the opposition in parliament.
The HIMARS system is the centerpiece of this arms sale. In May, Taiwan conducted its first live-fire test of the system, which proved highly effective in the Ukrainian war against Russian aggression.
The HIMARS platform can carry missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers, covering the southeastern coast of China, significantly enhancing Taiwan's strike capabilities in terms of both range and accuracy.
United States Department of State The statement regarding the sale of HIMARS stated that: This agreement aligns with U.S. national security interests by enabling Taiwan to modernize its armed forces and maintain its credible defense capabilities.
The statement stated that “The HIMARS system will help maintain political stability, the military balance, and economic progress in the region.”
The latest package also includes the first-ever sale of the Tactical Mission Network software to Taiwan, valued at approximately $1.01 billion, a system that allows commanders to receive real-time information about troops on the battlefield.
Jack Chen, Director of Formosa Defense Vision, a defense policy advocacy group. said "This software will enable various units of the Taiwanese military to quickly exchange information during operations and enhance situational awareness on the battlefield." ready to add that This system will help the Taiwanese military get closer to its goal of creating a fully integrated picture of joint operations.
refer : www.bloomberg.com
Read news related to The full US economic situation can be found here.
