US approves first military sale to Taiwan since Trump's return to office

• The US approved a $330 million sale of military equipment and support to Taiwan, marking the first such deal since President Donald Trump's return to the White House.
• The sale, which includes spare parts for F-16 and C-130 aircraft, drew "strong opposition" from China, which considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory.

The United States has approved the sale of $330 million worth of equipment and support to Taiwan, the island’s Foreign Ministry announced Friday.

The deal is the first military sale to the self-ruled island since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Washington is Taiwan's largest arms supplier, a cooperation that serves as a key deterrent against a potential Chinese attack. However, Trump's past statements on Taiwan have fueled concerns about his willingness to defend the island.

Deal Focuses on Aircraft Support

"This is the first time the new Trump administration has announced an arms sale to Taiwan," the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said, following approval from the US State Department.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated that Taiwan requested components, including spare parts and support for its U.S.-made F-16 and C-130 aircraft, in addition to a domestically produced fighter jet.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the deal will help the island maintain "combat readiness" and "enhance defensive resilience" against China.

China continuously deploys military aircraft and warships around Taiwan in what analysts term "gray zone" tactics; actions that fall short of outright warfare.

China Expresses “Strong Opposition”

Beijing, which claims Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has threatened to use force to take control, immediately expressed "strong opposition" to the sale.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s objection comes just two weeks after Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, where the leaders discussed trade and regional stability.

“Strategic Ambiguity” and Political Hurdles

While the US is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with arms, Washington maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity," declining to specify whether it would deploy its military to defend the island against a Chinese attack.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has actively sought to secure favor with Trump, pledging to increase defense spending to more than 3% of GDP next year and 5% by 2030.

However, Lai's plans face hurdles. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, which controls the parliament, has expressed dismay over billions of dollars in delayed U.S. arms deliveries and questioned the feasibility of such high defense spending.

KMT's new pro-China leader, Cheng Li-wen, recently told AFP that Taiwan cannot afford to increase defense spending beyond 3% of GDP, stating, "Taiwan is not an ATM."

The deal also follows a diplomatic spat between Beijing and Tokyo over remarks by hawkish new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested last week that armed attacks on Taiwan could justify Japan sending troops in "collective self-defense."

Beijing condemned Takaichi's comments, with its Foreign Ministry saying Thursday it would "not tolerate them in any form."