U.S. Approves $11 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan, Risking China's Fury

The United States has approved over $11 billion in potential weapons sales to Taiwan. The move is expected to sharply increase tensions with China. The U.S. State Department greenlit eight separate arms packages. They include advanced equipment like armed drones, artillery systems, and missiles. Washington says the sales are necessary for Taiwan's self-defense. The U.S. follows a longstanding policy to provide Taiwan with weapons for this purpose. China claims the self-ruled island as its own territory. It strongly opposes any foreign military support for Taiwan. Beijing views such arms sales as a direct challenge to its sovereignty. This large package will likely trigger a strong diplomatic protest from China. It may also lead to Chinese military exercises near Taiwan. The approval comes as both the U.S. and China work to stabilize their difficult relationship. This major arms deal presents a serious new test for those efforts.