Story perspectives

Trump pledges larger Taiwan arms sales; Taiwan OKs $25B budget

5/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump announced he will raise Taiwan arms sales with President Xi Jinping at the Beijing summit.
The summit will cover the $11 billion December weapons package and a pending $14 billion package, senior officials noting the administration has already approved more Taiwan sales in its first year than the prior administration did in four years.
Taiwan’s parliament approved a $25 billion defense budget, short of the $40 billion request.

History

Historical Context

During the 1995 Third Taiwan Strait Crisis China launched 11 missiles, twice the July-1995 count, prompting heightened U.S. attention to Taiwan’s defense. Subsequent decades saw regular PLA drills—2022’s large-scale live-fire exercises and 2025’s Strait Thunder—while Washington maintained arms ties, exemplified by the 2021 lifting of self-imposed restrictions. These cycles underline the enduring strategic tension across the strait.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump announced he will raise Taiwan arms sales with President Xi Jinping at the Beijing summit.
The summit will cover the $11 billion December weapons package and a pending $14 billion package, senior officials noting the administration has already approved more Taiwan sales in its first year than the prior administration did in four years.
Taiwan’s parliament approved a $25 billion defense budget, short of the $40 billion request.

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