China tells US to 'immediately' stop arming Taiwan after Washington approves arms package
China told the United States on Thursday to "immediately stop" arming Taiwan after Taipei said Washington had authorised a $11 billion weapons package to the island. Approved by the State Department but awaiting congressional approval, the sale would take effect in about a month, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry.
Issued on: 18/12/2025
By: FRANCE 24
A Taiwan Coast Guard ship patrols near Dadan Island, with the Chinese city of Xiamen visible in the background on October 18, 2025. © Ann Wang, Reuters
China told the United States on Thursday to "immediately stop" arming Taiwan after Washington had approved the sale of $11 billion of weapons to the island.
"China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle ... and immediately stop the dangerous actions of arming Taiwan," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference.
Washington approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan on Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for Taipei as it seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion.
While Washington is traditionally Taiwan's biggest arms supplier, remarks by US President Donald Trump raised doubts about his willingness to defend the democratic island.
Taiwan has ramped up its defence spending in the past decade as China has intensified military pressure, but Trump's administration has pushed the island to do more to protect itself.
The arms sale announced on Thursday, which still needs US congressional approval, would be the second since Trump returned to office in January, after the $330 million sale of parts and components in November.
READ MORETaiwan to keep production of 'most advanced' chips at home: deputy FM
The latest, much bigger cache features HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, drones and other equipment, according to Taipei's foreign ministry.
"This is the second arms sale to Taiwan announced during the Trump administration's second term, once again demonstrating the US's firm commitment to Taiwan's security", Taipei's foreign ministry said.
The potential size of the sale rivals the $18 billion authorised under former US president George W. Bush in 2001, although that was ultimately downsized after commercial negotiations.
Bush ended up selling $15.6 billion-worth of weapons to Taiwan over his eight years in office.
During Trump's first term, the United States approved $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including $8 billion for fighter jets.
The latest package is expected to soon receive a congressional rubber stamp, given the cross-party consensus on Taiwan's defence.
Taiwan maintains its own defence industry but the island would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China, and so remains heavily reliant on US arms.
WATCH MORETaiwan rolls out ‘crisis guide’ as island braces for disasters and China threats
The latest arms sale shows Washington has continued to assist Taipei in "rapidly building robust deterrence capabilities", Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's government has vowed to ramp up defence spending to more than three percent of the GDP next year and five percent by 2030, following US pressure.
It is also plans to seek up to NT$1 trillion in special funding to upgrade the island's air defence systems and increase capacity to produce and store ammunition.
The defence spending proposals need backing from the island's opposition-controlled parliament before they can take effect.
China deploys military aircraft and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, which analysts describe as "grey-zone" operations – coercive tactics that fall short of an act of war.
Taipei's defence ministry said 40 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters, choppers and drones, as well as eight naval vessels, were detected around Taiwan in a 24-hour period ending early Thursday.
On Tuesday, Beijing's third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, according to Taipei.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
China told the United States on Thursday to "immediately stop" arming Taiwan after Washington had approved the sale of $11 billion of weapons to the island.
"China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle ... and immediately stop the dangerous actions of arming Taiwan," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference.
Washington approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan on Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for Taipei as it seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion.
While Washington is traditionally Taiwan's biggest arms supplier, remarks by US President Donald Trump raised doubts about his willingness to defend the democratic island.
Taiwan has ramped up its defence spending in the past decade as China has intensified military pressure, but Trump's administration has pushed the island to do more to protect itself.
The arms sale announced on Thursday, which still needs US congressional approval, would be the second since Trump returned to office in January, after the $330 million sale of parts and components in November.
READ MORETaiwan to keep production of 'most advanced' chips at home: deputy FM
The latest, much bigger cache features HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, drones and other equipment, according to Taipei's foreign ministry.
"This is the second arms sale to Taiwan announced during the Trump administration's second term, once again demonstrating the US's firm commitment to Taiwan's security", Taipei's foreign ministry said.
The potential size of the sale rivals the $18 billion authorised under former US president George W. Bush in 2001, although that was ultimately downsized after commercial negotiations.
Bush ended up selling $15.6 billion-worth of weapons to Taiwan over his eight years in office.
During Trump's first term, the United States approved $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including $8 billion for fighter jets.
The latest package is expected to soon receive a congressional rubber stamp, given the cross-party consensus on Taiwan's defence.
Taiwan maintains its own defence industry but the island would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China, and so remains heavily reliant on US arms.
WATCH MORETaiwan rolls out ‘crisis guide’ as island braces for disasters and China threats
The latest arms sale shows Washington has continued to assist Taipei in "rapidly building robust deterrence capabilities", Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's government has vowed to ramp up defence spending to more than three percent of the GDP next year and five percent by 2030, following US pressure.
It is also plans to seek up to NT$1 trillion in special funding to upgrade the island's air defence systems and increase capacity to produce and store ammunition.
The defence spending proposals need backing from the island's opposition-controlled parliament before they can take effect.
China deploys military aircraft and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, which analysts describe as "grey-zone" operations – coercive tactics that fall short of an act of war.
Taipei's defence ministry said 40 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters, choppers and drones, as well as eight naval vessels, were detected around Taiwan in a 24-hour period ending early Thursday.
On Tuesday, Beijing's third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, according to Taipei.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
US approves largest arms sale to Taiwan
Midhat Fatimah
"The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power and leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages, which form the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability," it added.
Other sales in the package include military software valued at more than $1 billion, Javelin and TOW missiles worth more than $700 million, helicopter spare parts worth $96 million and refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles worth $91 million.
Edited by: Kieran Burke
Midhat Fatimah
DW, AP, Reuters
18/12/2025
The weapons package for Taiwan is valued at more than $10 billion and includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones.
The United States on Wednesday announced an arms sales package worth $11.1 billion (€9.45 billion) for Taiwan, making it the largest ever US weapons package for the island.
The State Department announced the arms sales package as US President Donald Trump made a televised address.
The move is likely to irk China which claims sovereignty over Taiwan.
The arms deal comes after Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung made a low-profile trip to the Washington-area last week, which was reported by Taiwanese and Asian media.
The US State Department said the sales serve "US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability."
What does the arms sales package include?
The arms package — which includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones — is the second under Trump's current administration, and comes amid China's increasing military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan.
The proposed arms sale covers eight items. These included HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munition drones and parts for other equipment, Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement.
The weapons package for Taiwan is valued at more than $10 billion and includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones.
Taiwan's government has vowed to ramp up defense spending as China maintains military pressure around the island
Image: Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo/picture alliance
The United States on Wednesday announced an arms sales package worth $11.1 billion (€9.45 billion) for Taiwan, making it the largest ever US weapons package for the island.
The State Department announced the arms sales package as US President Donald Trump made a televised address.
The move is likely to irk China which claims sovereignty over Taiwan.
The arms deal comes after Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung made a low-profile trip to the Washington-area last week, which was reported by Taiwanese and Asian media.
The US State Department said the sales serve "US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability."
What does the arms sales package include?
The arms package — which includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones — is the second under Trump's current administration, and comes amid China's increasing military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan.
The proposed arms sale covers eight items. These included HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munition drones and parts for other equipment, Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement.
"The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power and leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages, which form the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability," it added.
Other sales in the package include military software valued at more than $1 billion, Javelin and TOW missiles worth more than $700 million, helicopter spare parts worth $96 million and refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles worth $91 million.
Edited by: Kieran Burke
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