WASHINGTON: The United States has approved the sale of an advanced missile system to Taiwan valued at nearly $700 million — its second weapons package in a week — raising the total to $1 billion and underscoring Washington’s continued support for Taipei, reports Reuters.
In the Indo-Pacific, only Australia and Indonesia currently operate the system, three units of which the US announced last year would be supplied to Taiwan under a separate $2-billion arms sale.
The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), a medium-range air defence platform built by RTX, has been combat-proven in Ukraine but represents a new addition to Taiwan’s arsenal.
According to the Pentagon, the company has been awarded a firm fixed-price contract to supply the NASAMS units, with delivery expected to be completed by February 2031.
“Fiscal 2026 foreign military sales (Taiwan) funds in the amount of $698,948,760 were obligated,” the Pentagon said in a statement on Monday.
RTX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Used in Ukraine to defend against the Russian invasion, the NASAMS system provides a significant upgrade in air defence capabilities — one that the US is now exporting to Taiwan as global demand rises.
‘Rock solid’ US support
“It should be clear today and will remain clear into the future that America’s commitments to Taiwan are rock solid,” Raymond Greene, the de facto US ambassador in Taipei, told an American Chamber of Commerce event in Taiwan on Tuesday.
“We are backing these words with actions, with a focus on supporting Taiwan’s efforts to achieve peace through strength. Nowhere is this more apparent than in our growing defence industrial cooperation.”
Thursday’s US approval of a $330 million sale of fighter jets and other aircraft parts to Taiwan was its first such transaction since President Donald Trump took office in January, drawing thanks from Taipei and criticism from Beijing.
The arms sales development comes amid a deepening diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Tokyo over Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory — a claim Taiwan’s government rejects.
On Sunday, Chinese coast guard vessels sailed through waters near a group of East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but claimed by China.
Japan also said it scrambled fighter jets on Saturday after China flew a drone between Taiwan and Japan’s westernmost island of Yonaguni.
Asked about the rising tension on Wednesday, Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo said China should not resort to force to resolve disputes.
“China should abandon its thinking of using force to resolve things,” he told reporters.
Taiwan’s military is expanding its defence capabilities to counter any potential attack from China, including building its own submarines to protect crucial maritime supply routes.
China’s military operates around Taiwan almost daily, in what Taipei sees as a “grey zone” strategy aimed at testing and wearing down its forces.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, US law requires Washington to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself — a longstanding source of anger for Beijing.
