The United States has approved the sale of an advanced missile defence system worth nearly $700 million to Taiwan, marking the second major weapons package announced within a week. Combined with last Thursday’s $330 million deal for aircraft parts, Washington’s recent approvals bring total arms sales to Taipei to around $1 billion, reaffirming its commitment to Taiwan’s security amid rising regional tensions.
The new package includes the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), a medium-range air defence weapon developed by RTX. The Pentagon confirmed that a fixed-price contract had been awarded for the procurement of the NASAMS units, with completion expected by February 2031. It said $698,948,760 had been allocated from fiscal 2026 foreign military sales funds for Taiwan.
The system, already in use by Ukraine, has demonstrated strong battlefield performance and is expected to significantly enhance Taiwan’s ability to counter aerial threats. In the Indo-Pacific, only Australia and Indonesia currently operate NASAMS, making it a relatively new addition to Taiwan’s arsenal.
Strengthening Taiwan’s Air Defence
The NASAMS system is designed to intercept aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles at medium range, offering a more flexible defence network. The US had earlier confirmed that Taiwan would receive three of these systems as part of a broader $2 billion weapons package.
RTX, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies, has not yet commented on the latest contract. However, demand for the system has surged worldwide following its proven success in protecting Ukrainian infrastructure from Russian missile attacks.
‘Peace Through Strength’ Message from Washington
Raymond Greene, the de facto US ambassador in Taipei, emphasised America’s unwavering support during an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. “It should be clear today and will remain clear into the future that America’s commitments to Taiwan are rock solid,” he said.
Greene added that the US was backing its words with concrete action. “Our focus is on helping Taiwan achieve peace through strength, and nowhere is this more evident than in our growing defence industrial cooperation,” he noted.
Thursday’s approval of aircraft parts for Taiwan was the first such deal under the new US administration. While Taipei welcomed the move, Beijing expressed anger, accusing Washington of interfering in China’s internal affairs.
Heightened Regional Tensions
The weapons sales come amid worsening diplomatic tensions in East Asia, particularly over Taiwan. Beijing claims the island as its own, while Taipei insists it is a self-governing democracy. The dispute has recently deepened friction not only between China and Taiwan but also between Beijing and Tokyo.
Over the weekend, Chinese coast guard vessels sailed through waters near islands controlled by Japan but claimed by China. In response, Japan scrambled fighter jets after detecting a Chinese drone flying between Taiwan and Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost island.
Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo urged China to abandon the idea of resolving disputes through force. “China should abandon its thinking of using force to resolve things,” he said on Wednesday.
Taiwan has been expanding its defence capabilities, including building indigenous submarines to protect crucial sea routes. Its military frequently faces Chinese incursions in what officials describe as a “grey zone” strategy aimed at testing and wearing down Taiwan’s defences.
Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, the US is legally obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taipei with defensive arms a policy that continues to draw sharp condemnation from Beijing.
(with inputs from Reuters)
