State Department US allowed sales to Taiwan spare parts and repair parts military aircraft This is the first defense deal between the two countries since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The measures that caused the China’s immediate and strong reactionthis is part of the backdrop of the growing dispute between Washington and China over the situation in the strait.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) reported in an official statement that the U.S. mission to Taiwan requested non-standard parts, maintenance materials, consumables and accessories. F-16 fighter, C-130 transport aircraft, IDFA fighter aircraft developed by the island’s military industry. The agency said the operation complies with U.S. law and contributes to helping Taiwan modernize its military apparatus.
DSCA also explained that the packages will be provided from the U.S. government’s own reserves, which will speed up transit times.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MDN), the arrival of these weapons will enable Taiwan to maintain the operational readiness of its air squadrons, strengthen its anti-aircraft defense capabilities, and improve its response to “gray zone” incursions, a covert military pressure tactic frequently deployed by China.
The announcement came weeks after President Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. The issue of the island was not raised publicly at this meeting, but it did produce a strong statement from the American president. In a subsequent interview with CBS, President Trump said that Chinese authorities were “aware of the consequences” and vowed that China would not take military action during his administration.
The Chinese government’s response was immediate and strong.. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian told a news conference that the US decision “seriously violates China’s sovereignty and security interests” and accused the US of sending an “extremely negative” signal to Taiwan’s independence supporters. Furthermore, he reiterated that the Taiwan issue constitutes the “first inviolable line that must not be crossed” in bilateral relations.
China considers Taipei an integral part of its territory and has not ruled out resorting to force to achieve reunification, a central goal since Mr. Xi took power in 2012. The United States is Taipei’s main arms supplier and, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, maintains a tacit commitment to support Taipei in the event of conflict, which has been the case for decades.
Washington’s new measures could come within a month and would once again expose the region to a tense scenario. The White House has insisted on guaranteeing Taiwan’s defense capabilities, while warning that China will not tolerate any measures it sees as an obstacle to its goal of unification. Between the two countries, the island remains the epicenter of one of the most sensitive geopolitical disputes of the 21st century.
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