Biden Said No – Now Trump Wants to Ramp Up Arms Sales

Trump wants to sell more weapons to Taiwan than ever before – and it sends a clear signal.

During Donald Trump’s last presidency, weapons worth approximately $18 billion were sold to Taiwan.

Joe Biden, during his time in the White House, has approved arms deals for less than half of that. However, with Trump seemingly aiming for a return to the pinnacle of American politics, a new course is being charted – potentially impacting the power balance in Asia substantially.

More Than Double?

According to U.S. officials interviewed by Reuters, weapon sales to Taiwan are expected to exceed the level of Trump’s first presidency. More than $18 billion, which is equivalent to about 125 billion Danish kroner.

It’s not only the quantity of weapons that is changing. It’s also the signal value: while Biden has been more cautious and has rejected certain weapon requests from Taiwan, such as the advanced MH-60R helicopters and E-2D surveillance aircraft, Trump seems poised to take the opposite approach.

Why Taiwan?

Taiwan is a democratically governed island with 23 million inhabitants, which China regards as part of its territory.

In recent years, China has increased military pressure around the island – with flights close to Taiwanese airspace and frequent threats of reunification by force.

The USA has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is considered its most significant security partner. Therefore, any shift in Washington’s approach garners large attention – especially in Beijing.

Pressure from China – and the Opposition

The Trump administration’s prepared policies entail more than just selling more weapons.

According to sources, the USA is also pressuring the Taiwanese opposition not to obstruct an increase in the defense budget.

Taiwan now aims to spend 3% of its GDP on the military. This is a high level for a country without nuclear weapons and with limited resources – something that could potentially polarize internal debate in the country.

A Turning Point?

While Biden’s course has been characterized by diplomacy and attempts to balance relationships with both China and Taiwan, everything now suggests that Trump, in a new presidency, would adopt a tougher stance.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.