US approves first military sale to Taiwan since Trump’s return

The United States has approved $330 million-worth of parts and equipment in its first military sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the island’s foreign ministry said Friday.

While the United States does not recognize Taiwan’s claim to statehood, Washington is Taipei’s biggest arms supplier and a key deterrent to China potentially launching an attack on the democratic island.

Beijing claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.

“This marks the first time the new Trump administration has announced an arms sale to Taiwan,” the foreign ministry said, after the US State Department approved the package.

Taiwan requested “non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support for F-16, C-130, and Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) aircraft,” a statement posted on the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s government has vowed to ramp up defense spending as China maintains military pressure around the island.

While Taiwan has its own defense industry, the island’s military would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China and remains heavily reliant on US arms.