US Clears $330M Arms Tranche to Taiwan — First Sale Under Trump Raises Tensions with Beijing

Washington approves first Trump-era arms sale to Taiwan

Washington has approved the first tranche of military sales to Taiwan since President Donald Trump took office — a $330 million package of aircraft parts — renewing tensions with Beijing after a recent lull linked to the U.S.-China trade dispute.

At the same time, Beijing is showcasing new hardware. China has unveiled a string of advanced defence systems, including a large new aircraft carrier and trials of an amphibious "drone carrier," signalling rapid modernization of certain capabilities.

Despite the high-profile equipment, concerns persist within Chinese military ranks. An intensifying purge of several senior People's Liberation Army commanders — officially attributed to widespread corruption — has prompted questions about overall readiness and command cohesion.

As a Taiwanese official told the Financial Times, "the outcome of these purges is still completely unclear."

Implications

The U.S. sale is likely to complicate already strained relations between Washington and Beijing. For Taiwan, the parts package bolsters maintenance and readiness of existing aircraft fleets. For China, domestic military reforms and high-visibility hardware displays occur alongside internal leadership upheavals that could affect operational capability.