US announces $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, its largest ever

FRANCE 24 English

US President Donald Trump's administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, drawing an angry response from China. FRANCE 24's Monte Francis speaks with Rex Li, Professor of International Relations at King's College London.  Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

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00:00And tonight we're focusing on a move by the U.S. government to sell arms to Taiwan to the tune of

00:07$11 billion. Now, if approved by Congress, it would be the largest single U.S. weapons package

00:13ever for the island. Taiwan is self-governing and has long feared a military invasion by China,

00:19which considers the island part of its territory. In fact, a spokesperson for China's foreign

00:24ministry condemned the arms sale, saying it violated Beijing's sovereignty over the island

00:29and that the move would, quote, push Taiwan toward the perils of war. Karis Garland reports.

00:39After first test firing this U.S. rocket launcher in May, Taiwan is set to acquire even more of the

00:46weapons systems. This is part of Washington's largest ever arms package for the island.

00:52Valued over $11 billion, Taipei said the latest package contains eight items,

00:57as well as the high-mobility artillery rocket systems. It includes howitzers,

01:02javelin, anti-tank missiles, drones and parts for other equipment. The arms sale is the second

01:08under President Donald Trump's administration and it comes as Taiwan faces increasing military

01:13pressure from China. Pushed by the U.S., the island has vowed to ramp up defense spending to 5% of GDP

01:20by 2030. Our country will continue to promote defense reforms, strengthen whole-of-society

01:27defense resilience, demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves and safeguard peace through

01:33strength. Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan as part of the One China policy,

01:39slammed the weapons package. The foreign ministry said using Taiwan to contain China was, quote,

01:45doomed to fail. China urges the United States to abide by the One China principle and the three

01:51China-U.S. joint communiques, honor its commitments and immediately stop the dangerous actions of

01:56arming Taiwan. China will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its national sovereignty,

02:02security and territorial integrity. The Pentagon said the package, which still needs to be approved

02:09by Congress, served American interests by supporting Taiwan's efforts to modernize its armed forces and

02:15to maintain a credible defensive capability. Washington is bound by law to provide Taipei

02:21with the means to defend itself. And for more on this story, we're joined by Rex Lee, a professor of

02:28international relations at King's College London and a leading expert on Chinese foreign policy and Asia-Pacific

02:34security. Thanks so much for being with us on France 24. So China has reacted with fury to this news.

02:41Does this push Taiwan and China closer to an armed conflict?

02:46Well, in the short term, this will not lead to a major conflict. But it has certainly increased the

02:54tension between China and the United States. It has also increased the tension between China and Taiwan.

03:02I mean, essentially, essentially, the arms package is designed to help Taiwan boost its defense

03:09capability significantly in the face of increasing military pressure from China. So, you know,

03:17so we need to watch this very carefully. Now, as I understand this, the weapons package includes

03:22long range missiles. So these aren't just defensive weapons we're talking about, but weapons that could

03:28be used to strike China. So how significant is that? And how does China view this?

03:34Well, it is very significant. In terms of military balance, there's no doubt that China has superior

03:42military power over Taiwan. However, you know, all these weapons, while smaller, are actually rather mobile,

03:51and they could be effective in a conflict over Taiwan, you know, between China, it would be helpful

03:59for Taiwan in this asymmetric warfare with China. So I think in that sense, in that sense, it can be very

04:08significant. You know, as we can see, smaller weapons could be effective on the battlefield.

04:16Exactly happened, exactly what happened in the Ukraine.

04:24So what does this say about American foreign policy with regard to Taiwan? We've seen Donald Trump eager to cut

04:29trade deals with China, and so many had feared that he would abandon support for Taiwan. Does this move

04:37indicate otherwise?

04:39Yeah, yes. President Trump has been rather ambiguous in terms of promising to defend Taiwan, unlike the

04:51previous administration, the Biden administration. In a way, China has been hoping that the Trump

04:59administration would not defend Taiwan would not defend Taiwan. So this package, you know,

05:06this package, therefore, would increase tension. And China is, you know, seeing this as a provocation,

05:14seeing this as a U.S. move to use Taiwan to contain China, to prevent China from rising economically and

05:25militarily. But, you know, but in a, you know, in a longer term, it would not affect U.S.-China relations

05:33as such, because both countries realize, I think, that they need, they need to work with each other

05:39to deal with a whole range of international issues.

05:43Well, exactly. And Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with President Xi of China in April.

05:48Do you think that Trump could use this issue of selling arms to Taiwan as,

05:51as a bargaining chip as he tries to negotiate deals with China?

05:56Yes, yes. I think that's exactly, that's exactly what is in the mind of President Trump, I think.

06:05And, you know, and because, you know, because Taiwan is central to, you know, to Chinese

06:12national thinking, and is so important to Chinese leaders. So it could be used, it could be used

06:20in negotiations with China, in terms of trade negotiations, and in other areas as well. So, you know,

06:28so it is not accidental that the arms sale package is announced now.

06:36So President Xi has ordered the Chinese military to be ready for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027.

06:43Of course, that doesn't mean it will definitely happen. But from your standpoint,

06:46how likely is it that China will invade Taiwan, let's say, in the next five years?

06:53Well, I think it is unlikely that China would, you know, would take military actions against Taiwan

07:02in the next few years. But that is not to say that China will not do this under any circumstances,

07:11depending on the situation. You know, and, you know, even though China, China is not

07:18well prepared, it will still take actions if the Chinese leadership feels that there's no other

07:26options but to do this.

07:29You know, we were talking about Donald Trump's response to this. I recall that during Joe Biden's

07:34presidency, he indicated that he would come to Taiwan's defense if it was invaded by China.

07:40Trump has not said the same. How do you think this White House would react if China, in fact, invaded?

07:47Well, you know, if China does invade Taiwan, then I think we would need to look at the circumstances

07:54and under what circumstances did this happen. Now, I would say that the Trump administration

08:02would be rather reluctant to intervene in a conflict across the Taiwan Strait directly.

08:09But, you know, but of course, you know, President Trump, as we know, could be rather unpredictable.

08:17And in fact, you know, he's not saying too much on Taiwan and how he would react to Chinese military actions.

08:26So I think we have to wait and see.

08:30Before I let you go, I want to ask you quickly about Taiwan. You know, Taiwan is committed to a massive

08:34$40 billion supplementary defense budget. Is this something Taiwan can afford? And is this level

08:42of spending sustainable for its economy?

08:45Yes. I mean, it would be difficult. It would be difficult for the Taiwanese government.

08:52But I think the Taiwanese government, you know, is committed to this because it feels that without

09:00sufficient self-defense capability, it would become very vulnerable. And of course, you know,

09:06and also because of the unpredictability of how the Trump administration might react to

09:15Chinese actions, it would be in the interest of Taiwan's government and the Taiwan's people

09:24to build up its military capabilities in the event of a Chinese invasion.

09:30Okay, we'll have to leave it there. Rex Lee, Professor of International Relations at King's College,

09:34London, a leading expert on Chinese foreign policy. Thanks so much for joining us here

09:38on France 24. We appreciate it.

09:41Thank you. Thank you.

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