Trump plans to increase arms sales to Taiwan to curb China's advance

The United States plans to significantly increase its arms sales to Taiwan, even surpassing the levels recorded during President Donald Trump's first term.

This was reported by two U.S. officials, who stated that this increase aims to strengthen deterrence against a China that has intensified its military pressure on the autonomous island.

If implemented, this decision would not only reassure those who doubt Trump's commitment to Taiwan's defense but could also generate new tensions in the already complex relationship between Washington and Beijing.

During Trump's first term, the United States approved approximately $18.3 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, compared to $8.4 billion under President Joe Biden.

The officials anticipate that sales authorizations for the next four years will exceed those figures, and one of them indicated that the arms packages "could easily exceed" the volume of Trump's first administration.

The United States, although it doesn't maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, is its main international ally and arms supplier.

U.S. officials stated that both Trump and his team are committed to strengthening "hard deterrence" in favor of Taiwan. The new sales would focus on missiles, munitions, and drones, more affordable but crucial weaponry to confront China's much larger military forces.

In addition to increasing arms sales, Washington is pressuring opposition parties in Taiwannot to block the increase in the defense budget, which President Lai Ching-te's government and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) want to raise to 3% of GDP.

Although the proposal has the support of the Executive, parliament is dominated by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which approved budget cuts earlier this year, causing concern in Washington.

Three Taiwanese sources confirmed that representatives of the U.S. government and three American congressmen have directly urged opposition lawmakers not to obstruct the special defense budget that will be presented later this year. "This is not a partisan issue, it's a matter of national survival," one of the officials stated.

From the KMT, Alexander Huang stated that the party supports the increase in defense spending, although he clarified that this doesn't mean acting as a "rubber stamp" for the Executive. Meanwhile, the TPP assured that it keeps "smooth dialogue" with the United States on national security and regional defense.

In April, media reported that the United States had rejected selling Taiwan MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters and E-2D early warning aircraft. Even so, Taiwan continues to strengthen its defense.

Taiwan plans to create new drone units for the first time in its history and deploy a new air defense battalion with Patriot PAC-3 systems, considered essential to repel air attacks.

Meanwhile, China has set 2027 as the imminent date for an invasion of Taiwan, according to Chinese Defense Ministry documents shared with lawmakers. This possibility will be simulated in the main summer military exercises, whose duration will double to ten days.

Although Taiwan has conducted defense drills in previous years, this is the first time in a decade that a specific date for a Chinese invasion has been mentioned.

In parallel, the United States would not oppose a possible transit this year by President Lai through U.S. territory, a visit that has historically irritated China. However, Taiwan's Presidential Office indicated that currently "there are no plans" for such a trip.

China, meanwhile, reiterated its rejection of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian urged the United States not to create "new factors" that increase tension in the Taiwan Strait.