Washington:

Taiwan is exploring buying arms worth billions of dollars from the United States, sources briefed on the matter said, hoping to win support from the new Trump administration as China continues to apply military pressure on the island.

Three sources familiar with the situation, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, told Reuters that Taiwan is in talks with Washington.

The package is meant to demonstrate to the United States that Taiwan is committed to its defense, one of the sources said.

A second source said the package would include coastal defense cruise missiles and HIMARS rockets.

“I would be very surprised if it was less than $8 billion. Somewhere between $7 billion to $10 billion,” the source added.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, US national security adviser Mike Waltz has said he wants to speed delivery of weapons to Taiwan.

Taiwan’s defense ministry declined to comment on specific purchases but said it is focused on building its defenses.

“Any weaponry and equipment that can achieve those goals for building the military are listed as targets for tender,” it said.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.

TRUMP-TAIWAN RELATIONS

US President Donald Trump unnerved chip powerhouse Taiwan on the election campaign trail by saying the island stole American semiconductor business. This month, he threatened tariffs on chip imports.

But his administration maintained diplomatic support for the Chinese-claimed island.

Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued a joint statement on February 7 opposing any attempt to change the current situation in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion. The U.S. State Department also removed language on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence, a move praised by the island’s government. China has urged the US to “correct its mistakes”.

Taiwan plans to propose a special defense budget that prioritizes precision ammunition, air-defense upgrades, command and control systems, equipment for the reserve forces and anti-drone technology, a third source familiar with the matter said.

During his 2017-2021 term, Trump established regular arms sales to Taiwan, including multi-billion dollar deals for F-16 fighter jets. The Biden administration continued these sales, though often with smaller price tags.

Taiwanese officials see encouraging signs from Trump’s administration even as tariff threats weigh on that optimism.

Taiwan does not believe Trump is looking to make a “grand bargain” with Chinese President Xi Jinping to sell out Taiwan’s interests, one of the sources said. Trump is more concerned with putting tariffs on semiconductors, the source said.

In another sign of US commitment to Taiwan, the top US diplomat in Taiwan, Raymond Greene, will retain his post, three sources told Reuters, even as other US diplomatic postings undergo major reshuffles.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a question about Greene’s job status.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te holds a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan February 14, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Friday (February 14, 2025) he would communicate more with the U.S. over President Donald Trump’s concerns over the chip industry and invest more in the U.S, hours after Mr. Trump ordered reciprocal tariffs on trade partners.

Mr. Trump said on Thursday that Taiwan had taken away the U.S. chip business and said that he wanted it back in the country. Taiwan’s TSMC is the world’s largest chipmaker and produces chips for companies including Apple, Intel and Nvidia.

In a news briefing after holding a meeting of the National Security Council at the presidential office, Mr. Lai said that he was aware of Trump’s concerns. He described Taiwan’s semiconductor industry as well as the global semiconductor industry is part of an “ecosystem” in which countries specialize in different areas.

“The global semiconductor industry is an ecosystem, and it’s a division of work,” Mr. Lai said.

“In response to President Trump’s latest actions, Taiwan needs to respond calmly, and communicate well with the industries,” Mr. Lai said.

“We hope to create a win-win scenario, not just to ensure benefit to the U.S. but also to ensure that Taiwan‘s industries has room from growth.”

His comments came hours after Mr. Trump ordered reciprocal tariffs on trade partners that tax U.S. imports, a move that could threaten a global trade war.

The U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a country, but is its strongest backer and biggest arms provider. But bilateral relations between the two are less certain amid Mr. Trump’s seemingly transactional approach to geopolitical relations.

Mr. Lai said his government would propose a “global semiconductor democratic supply chain partnership initiative” and said he would be willing to work with partners such as the U.S. to build a more resilient and diversified semiconductor supply chain.

Mr. Lai said that Taiwan will maintain communication with the U.S. to help the new government better understand that Taiwan is an “indispensable partner in the United States’ process of rebuilding its manufacturing industry and consolidating its high-tech leadership.”

Over the past two years, more than 40% of Taiwan’s overseas investments are U.S. bound, Mr. Lai said, exceeding that of investments in China.

Mr. Lai also said Friday that he would propose a “special budget” to increase defense spending to over 3% of Taiwan’s gross domestic product.

Representational image of a Taiwan flag
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale to Taiwan of drones and missiles for an estimated $360 million, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

The United States is bound by law to provide Chinese-claimed Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, to the constant anger of Beijing.

China has been stepping up military pressure against Taiwan, including staging war games around the island last month after the inauguration of Lai Ching-te as president.

The sale “will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region”, the Pentagon agency said in separate statements on Tuesday in the United States.

The sale includes Switchblade 300 anti-personnel and anti-armour loitering munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $60.2 million, and ALTIUS 600M-V drones and related equipment for an estimated cost of $300 million, the agency added. Loitering munitions are small guided missiles that can fly around a target area until they are directed to attack.

Taiwan’s defence ministry expressed its thanks, especially for U.S. efforts to increase arms sales to the island. Taiwan has repeatedly complained of delayed deliveries.

“In the face of the Chinese communists’ frequent military operations around Taiwan, these U.S.-agreed-to arms sales items will have the ability to detect and strike in real time, and can respond quickly to enemy threats,” it said in a statement.

Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait require goodwill from China, the ministry added.

“It is hoped that the People’s Liberation Army will stop its oppressive military operations around Taiwan and jointly contribute to regional stability.”