Is US Strengthening Taiwan’s Defense With A $385M Arms Deal Before Lai’s Trip?

US State Department has green flagged the potential sale of spare parts for F-16 fighter jets and radars to Taiwan, valued at approximately $385 million. The announcement came ahead of Taiwan President , which includes stopovers in Hawaii and Guam which are key military locations of US.

Pentagon has confirmed that the package includes $320 million for F-16 spare parts and radar systems, alongside a $65 million deal for mobile communications equipment, with General Dynamics as the principal contractor. Taiwan’s defense ministry welcomed the move, emphasizing that the upgrades would bolster its F-16 fleet’s operational readiness and enhance its defensive capabilities.

These latest arms deal underscores Washington’s commitment to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, which mandates US support for the island’s self-defense. The move is expected to draw further ire from Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has ramped up military pressure, including multiple war games this year.

Lai’s tour, officially framed as a stopover en route to Pacific allies, has heightened tensions, with China warning the US to act cautiously. US maintains that Lai’s transit is routine and should not be seen as provocative.

Last month, Washington also approved a $2 billion arms package for Taiwan, featuring advanced missile defense systems used in Ukraine, signaling a continued deepening of US-Taiwan security ties.