New US weapons for Taiwan could be approved after Trump’s China trip

FE Team | Published: March 13, 2026 22:52:42

WASHINGTON/TAIPEI, Mar 13 (Reuters): A major US arms package for Taiwan that includes advanced interceptor missiles is ready for President Donald Trump's approval and could be signed after his trip to China this month, sources briefed on the discussions said.
With a price tag of about $14 billion, the arms deal would be the largest ever for the democratically governed island, which faces steadily rising military pressure from China.
Sources familiar with the administration's thinking told Reuters the deal is being held under wraps ahead of Trump's planned March 31 to April 2 trip to Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping, but could be announced after he returns.
Xi told Trump in February that arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory, must be handled with "prudence."
Trump's moves to secure a favorable trade deal with China have raised concerns among some China watchers that he could curb US military support for Taiwan. But the queued arms approval suggests that the administration plans to maintain or even increase support.
That in turn would ease anxiety in Taipei.
The package largely consists of PAC-3 and NASAMS air defense missiles, one of the sources said.
"As soon as the president gives the thumbs up, those are ready to be officially announced. Everything is done," said that person, who like the others spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter.
Another $6 billion in "asymmetric" defense capabilities was also awaiting approval and could be announced in linked or subsequent packages, the source added. The source declined to specify what those capabilities are.
Trump's National Security Strategy issued late last year states that deterring conflict over Taiwan is a priority for Washington, "ideally by preserving military overmatch."
But Trump's comments, including a February remark to journalists that he was "talking" to Xi about Taiwan arms sales, have stirred speculation that he could scale back the long-standing US practice of providing Taiwan with the means to defend itself, which is written in to US law.
Nonetheless, Trump's arms sales approvals to the island in his second term have already surpassed the amount approved by his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden over four years, including an $11 billion package in December that greenlighted various missiles, drones, artillery and aircraft parts.
Analysts say US administrations going back decades have timed weapons approvals for Taiwan around sensitive political engagement with Beijing.
China's foreign ministry said in a statement to Reuters that the government's "opposition to US arms sales to China's Taiwan region is consistent and unequivocal."
China, which considers Taiwan its own territory, regularly demands that the US stop selling it weapons.
In response to questions to the White House, a senior US official confirmed more weapons approvals were in the works.