Taiwan is reportedly planning to place additional weapons orders—including air defense systems and rocket launchers—with its security partner, the United States, as the self-ruled democratic island faces increasing military pressure from its powerful neighbor, China.
Newsweek has emailed the Taiwanese Defense Ministry for comment. China‘s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
The Chinese Communist Party has long claimed sovereignty over Taiwan, despite never having governed the island. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to use force to achieve unification if necessary, and his armed forces have been preparing for a potential invasion of Taiwan.
While the U.S. no longer maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it is required by the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with defensive arms and to maintain its own capability to resist any attempt to resolve cross-strait differences by non-peaceful means.
Facing China’s military buildup, the U.S. has stated that Taiwan should increase its defense spending to closer to 10 percent of its Gross Domestic Product, even though President Donald Trump once refused to answer whether he was committed to defending the island.
What To Know
Taiwan plans to acquire an additional 28 American rocket launchers—known as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)—and nine National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), the Taiwanese newspaper Taipei Times reported on Sunday.
According to the report, which cited military sources, Taiwan previously agreed to purchase 29 HIMARS launchers capable of firing rockets or missiles, with the first 11 launchers delivered in 2024. Taiwan’s HIMARS launchers were used for the first time in a live-fire exercise on the island in May 2025.
The U.S. previously approved the sale of three NASAMS to Taiwan, which are expected to be deployed near the island’s capital, Taipei, with the first to be delivered by the end of the year. The additional systems will enhance the defense of central and southern Taiwan.
HIMARS is a long-range, mobile, precision-fire launcher capable of firing four different variants of munitions. NASAMS is a short-to-medium-range, land-based air defense system designed to protect bases, ports, populated areas and other high-value assets.
Ukraine—which like Taiwan is faced by a hostile neighbor with much greater military resources—has used HIMARS and NASAMS in its war against Russia.
Meanwhile, another Taiwanese newspaper, the Liberty Times, reported on Monday that Taipei’s military plans to purchase additional Javelin and TOW (Tube-launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-guided) 2B missiles to strengthen its anti-armor capabilities.
Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said the total number of new missiles could exceed 2,000, based on their use by Ukrainian forces—which acquired them from the U.S.—and the estimated ammunition Taiwan would need in the event of a conflict.
According to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the Javelin is a shoulder-fired weapon capable of striking armored targets at their weakest points, while the TOW is claimed to be effective against “the most modern and heavily protected” armored vehicles and fortifications.
What People Are Saying
Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, said in April: “I want to underline that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan cannot change the strength contrast between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait much less impede the historical and inevitable trend of China’s reunification.”
Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said in April: “In the face of China’s intimidation tactics and destabilizing behavior, the United States’ enduring commitment to our allies and partners, including Taiwan, continues. The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including through force or coercion.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will approve any weapons sales to Taiwan in the coming months, while China continues to exert military pressure on the island.
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