Reuters: Trump Administration Plans to Boost Arms Sales to Taiwan

The United States plans to increase arms sales to Taiwan to levels exceeding those during Donald Trump’s first term in the White House, aiming to deter China, which is intensifying military pressure on the island.

Reuters reported on this, citing two American officials.

According to the officials, they expect that the number of licenses for the sale of American weapons to Taiwan over the next four years will surpass those issued during Trump’s first presidency.

They also stated that the United States was pressuring opposition parties in Taiwan not to oppose local authorities’ efforts to increase defense spending to 3% of the island’s budget.

The first Trump administration approved sales of approximately $18.3 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan, compared with around $8.4 billion during Joe Biden’s term, according to Reuters calculations.

The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei.

Despite this, in April the media reported that the United States had declined to supply Taiwan with MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters and E-2D airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft.

Taiwan plans to deploy a new air defense battalion equipped with several new Patriot PAC-3 systems.

The Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China identified 2027 as the likely time for a potential Chinese invasion of the island.

This date was mentioned in a document published to inform lawmakers about upcoming military exercises that will simulate an attack by Chinese forces. Additionally, this summer the duration of the exercises will be doubled—to ten days.

Over the past ten years, none of the previous plans for Taiwan’s largest annual military exercises specified a particular year for a possible Chinese invasion.

Taiwan also plans to form the first units in its history specialized in the use of drones.