Wed Nov 19 09:54:06 UTC 2025: ## US Approves $700 Million Missile System Sale to Taiwan, Reaffirming “Rock-Solid” Commitment

Washington D.C. – The United States has approved the sale of a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Taiwan in a deal worth nearly $700 million, the Pentagon announced Monday. The move represents the second arms package approved for Taiwan this week, bringing the total commitment to $1 billion and further solidifying the US’s support for the island nation’s security.

The NASAMS, manufactured by RTX and battle-tested in Ukraine, offers medium-range air defense capabilities, providing Taiwan with a significant boost to its air defenses. The Pentagon stated that the contract, scheduled to be completed by February 2031, is funded through foreign military sales allocated for Taiwan in fiscal year 2026.

“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, stated at an American Chamber of Commerce event, emphasizing the US’s commitment to backing up its words with concrete actions focused on strengthening Taiwan’s defense capabilities.

This latest arms sale follows the approval of a $330 million deal for warplanes and aircraft parts last week and comes amid escalating tensions between China and Taiwan. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has repeatedly threatened to use force to achieve reunification. The increased US support for Taiwan, including these arms sales, has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing.

The announcement also coincides with heightened regional anxieties, including recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting potential Japanese military intervention in the event of an attack on Taiwan. Additionally, there have been recent incidents involving Chinese coastguard ships near disputed islands in the East China Sea and Chinese drone flights between Taiwan and Japan’s Yonaguni island.

Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo urged China to “abandon its thinking of using force to resolve things,” emphasizing Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening its defenses, including building its own submarines.

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