Why The US Is Sending Weapons To Taiwan And How China Reacted

Beijing has always looked at Taiwan as something that belongs to them, threatening to take it back by force if necessary. But the view from Taiwan is totally different. They see themselves as distinct from the mainland, running their own democracy and living by their own rules. That difference in perspective sets the stage for the island's latest move. The United States has cleared a huge arms deal for Taiwan, approving weapons worth $11.1 billion. It’s among the largest such packages for the island. China reacted sharply to the deal, saying it will ramp up military drills and won’t hesitate to act tough to defend what it sees as its territory. Beijing added that protecting its sovereignty and borders remains a top priority.

The package for Taiwan covers a wide range of military gear. It includes dozens of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and hundreds of Army Tactical Missile Systems, together priced at over $4 billion, the same kind of systems the US has sent to Ukraine. The deal also features military software costing more than $1 billion, along with Javelin and TOW missiles valued at over $700 million. On top of that, there are spare parts for helicopters and upgrades for Harpoon missiles, adding several hundred million dollars more to the total. When rolling out the weapons deal, the Pentagon explained it boosts US interests by helping Taiwan modernise its military and keep a solid defence ready. The deal isn’t final yet and still has to clear the US Congress.

Meanwhile, the reason for all these purchases is pretty clear: things are getting crowded around the island. Beijing has aggressively dialled up its military activity, sending planes and ships into the area almost every single day. With regular military exercises happening so close to home, Taiwan is rushing to upgrade its defences. Back in October, Taiwan’s president revealed plans for a new dome-style air defence shield, saying it was meant to protect the island from “hostile threats”, without directly pointing the finger at China.

The US officially recognises China, not Taiwan, and has carefully balanced that relationship for years. Even so, Washington continues to stand close to Taiwan and remains its largest source of military support. Over the past ten years, a tense cycle has taken shape. When Taiwan pushes back against China, Beijing responds with tough talk. That, in turn, prompts louder backing for Taiwan from Washington. The pattern keeps repeating, pulling Taiwan deeper into the US–China rivalry and steadily raising fears that the standoff could one day spiral into a real conflict.