US approves $330 million military sale to Taiwan, first under the Trump administration

The United States on Thursday approved a $330 million sale of fighter jet and other aircraft parts to Taiwan, the first such deal since President Donald Trump took office in January, prompting gratitude from Taipei and sharp criticism from Beijing.

Washington remains Taiwan’s largest arms supplier and a central deterrent against a possible Chinese offensive, though Trump’s earlier remarks on the island had fuelled questions about his commitment to its defence.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has warned that it could use force to bring the island under its control.

According to a Pentagon statement “The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient’s fleet of F-16, C-130,” and other aircraft.

Although the US maintains official diplomatic relations with Beijing, it continues to uphold unofficial ties with Taipei and is legally obligated to supply Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Welcoming the announcement, the first arms package under the current administration — Taiwan’s presidential office expressed appreciation to Washington for sustaining regularised arms sales and supporting efforts to boost the island’s self-defence capabilities and resilience.

“The deepening of the Taiwan-U.S. security partnership is an important cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement.

The sales were expected to “take effect” within one month, Taiwan’s defence ministry said in a statement.

The provision of the parts will help maintain the air force’s fighter readiness and bolster air defences, strengthen defensive resilience and enhance the island’s ability to respond to China’s “gray-zone” incursions, the ministry said.

China’s military stages regular missions into the waters and skies around Taiwan, which the government in Taipei terms “gray-zone” activities designed to pressure the island but which stop short of actual combat.

China expressed anger, as it always does with U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

The announcement of the possible arms sale comes after Trump and Xi met late last month in South Korea in an effort to secure a trade deal. Ahead of the meeting, there was a fear in Taipei that there could have been some sort of “selling out” of Taiwan’s interests by Trump to Xi.

With inputs from agencies