The growing military pressure from Beijing has prompted the island, governed by William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party, to increase investment in its defense sector. Taipei’s military spending, with the clear aim of deterring a possible Chinese offensive, has now reached about 2.5% of GDP. Not only that: the Taiwanese government is reportedly evaluating a deal with Washington to buy an arms package worth about $10 billion.
The axis between Taiwan and the United States is becoming increasingly heated. Beijing knows no bounds in its military ambitions as it challenges Washington’s global supremacy like never before. Xi Jinping aims to make the prophecy of a Chinese-led twenty-first century a reality, starting with gaining dominance over the seas. According to rumors, the leader of the heir to the Celestial Empire has actually authorized the project to expand the aircraft carrier fleet, which should increase from three to six units by 2035. Or, perhaps, even more.
TAIWAN INVESTMENTS
The growing military pressure from Beijing has prompted the island, governed by William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party, to increase investment in its defense sector. Taipei’s spending on military affairs, with the clear aim of deterring a possible Chinese offensive, has now reached about 2.5% of GDP. Not only that: the Taiwanese government is reportedly evaluating a deal with Washington to buy an arms package worth about $10 billion in an attempt to curry favor with the US administration led by Donald Trump.
According to Reuters, Taiwanese authorities are currently in talks with Washington to buy weapons worth between $7 billion and $10 billion. “I would be very surprised if it was less than $8 billion. I would guess between $7 billion and $10 billion,” said an anonymous source, adding that the deal would include high-altitude artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and coastal defense cruise missiles.
US SHIPMENTS
Although Washington does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, the US is Taiwan’s main source of foreign arms. Not only that, the first Trump administration had begun to approve such sales more regularly, including high-ticket items such as upgraded F-16 fighter jets. No comment from the island’s Ministry of Defence: “All arms and equipment that can achieve such military-building goals are listed as tender targets.”
Taiwan received its first shipment of HIMARS units in November 2024, ordered in 2020 during Trump’s first term. The initial batch of 38 M1A2T Abrams tanks followed in December, selected from 108 approved by Congress for sale in 2019. Meanwhile, the top US military commander in the Indo-Pacific, Admiral Samuel Paparo, warned that Chinese military exercises around Taiwan could actually be “rehearsal” on the island for a future attack.
BEIJING’S PRESSURE
In recent days, Taipei has reported, not surprisingly, that it has tracked 36 Chinese aircraft and seven military ships engaged in activities around the island in the 24 hours leading up to 6 a.m. local time. According to a statement, 33 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the wide-ranging air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The island’s armed forces, in accordance with protocol, have mobilized Air Force and Navy units, as well as ground defense systems, “monitoring the situation and responding accordingly.”
China has been increasing its pressure in recent days on the island, which it considers an “inalienable” and “sacred” part of its territory, to reunify it, even by force if necessary. William Lai’s countermeasure? By trying, somehow, to curry favor with the Trump administration, negotiating with its officials to purchase weapons and military equipment. While the new package is pending, the Cato Institute, a think tank, noted that a large number of US arms sales to Taiwan remain. A remaining amount, apparently valued at around $21.95 billion, consists mainly of traditional weapons such as tanks and aircraft. Will all this be enough to discourage Beijing from making risky moves?
