The United States plans to increase arms sales to Taipei to a level beyond President Donald Trump's first term as part of efforts to deter China, which is increasing its military pressure on Taiwan, Reuters reported. The agency cited two anonymous White House sources.
If US arms sales to Taiwan do indeed accelerate, it could ease concerns about the extent of Trump's commitment to the island. It would also add new friction to strained U.S.-China relations.
The U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they expected U.S. approvals for arms sales to Taipei over the next four years to exceed those during Trump's first term, with one official saying that notifications of arms sales to Taiwan could "easily exceed" that earlier period.
They also said the United States was pressuring members of Taiwan's opposition parties not to oppose the government's efforts to increase defense spending to 3 percent of the island's budget.
A Reuters estimate shows that the first Trump administration approved about $18.3 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, compared with about $8.4 billion. dollars during Joe Biden's term.
The United States is the most important international supporter and arms supplier to Taiwan despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei.