U.S. confirms $700 million NASAMS sale to Taiwan amid rising tensions with China
By kevinhughes // 2025-11-22
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  • The U.S. confirmed a $698.9 million deal to supply Taiwan with three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), a medium-range defense system proven effective against drones and missiles in Ukraine. Delivery is expected by 2031.
  • The sale enhances Taiwan's ability to defend its airspace and boosts interoperability with the U.S., following a separate 330 million arms deal for F-16 spare parts earlier in the week—totaling 1 billion in U.S. military support.
  • Beijing denounced the sale as interference in its "internal affairs," while Taiwan reaffirmed its sovereignty, stating it is not subordinate to China.
  • Japan warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would threaten its survival, as China increased provocations near disputed islands controlled by Japan. Taiwan urged Beijing to abandon military aggression.
  • The NASAMS purchase aligns with Taiwan's "peace through strength" strategy amid China's "grey zone" warfare tactics, including frequent military incursions and pressure on supply lines. The U.S. remains committed under the Taiwan Relations Act to arm Taiwan defensively.
The United States has officially confirmed the sale of an almost $700 million advanced air defense missile system to Taiwan, marking the second major arms deal in a week and reaffirming Washington's commitment to Taipei's defense amid escalating tensions with China. The U.S. Department of War announced on Monday, Nov. 17, that RTX (formerly Raytheon) has been awarded a firm fixed-price contract to deliver the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Taiwan, with work expected to be completed by February 2031. The deal, funded through Fiscal 2026 Foreign Military Sales (Taiwan) allocations, totals roughly $699 million and includes three NASAMS units – a medium-range air defense system proven effective in Ukraine against Russian missile and drone attacks. Currently, only Australia and Indonesia operate NASAMS in the Indo-Pacific region, making Taiwan the third regional ally to deploy the system. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, NASAMS is a medium-range, networked air defense system developed by RTX and Norwegian defense company Kongsberg. It's designed to provide mobile, low-level air defense capabilities against various airborne threats, including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles. Taiwan's interest in NASAMS was first disclosed in October 2024 when the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved a potential $1.16 billion arms package. The DSCA stated that the sale would enhance Taiwan's ability to "defend its airspace, provide regional security and increase interoperability with the United States." This latest deal follows a $330 million U.S. arms sale announced on Nov. 14, which included spare and repair parts for Taiwan's military aircraft fleet, particularly its F-16s. Combined, the two sales bring the total U.S. military support to Taiwan this week to $1 billion. Raymond Greene, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan, reiterated Washington's unwavering support at an American Chamber of Commerce event in Taipei: "It should be clear today and will remain clear into the future that America's commitments to Taiwan are rock solid. We are backing these words with actions, with a focus on supporting Taiwan's efforts to achieve peace through strength."

China's outrage and regional tensions

Beijing swiftly condemned the arms sales, with Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang calling the U.S. move a "despicable act" that interferes in "China's internal affairs." Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) fired back, asserting: "The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent state and that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the People's Republic of China is subordinate to the other." The arms sales coincide with heightened tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently warned that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan would constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. On Sunday, Nov. 16, China escalated tensions by sending coast guard vessels through the disputed Senkaku Islands (known as Diaoyu in China), which are controlled by Japan but claimed by Beijing. Taiwanese Defense Minister Wellington Koo urged restraint, telling reporters: "China should abandon its thinking of using force to resolve things." Taiwan has been rapidly modernizing its defenses in response to China's "grey zone" warfare tactics – near-daily military incursions designed to test Taipei’s resolve. The island is also investing in indigenous submarine production to safeguard critical maritime supply lines. The NASAMS acquisition underscores Taiwan's push for "peace through strength" – a strategy increasingly backed by Washington despite Beijing's objections. The U.S. remains legally obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide defensive arms to the island, a policy that continues to provoke fierce opposition from China. The latest arms sales highlight the deepening U.S.-Taiwan defense partnership as both nations brace for potential conflict with China. While Beijing insists Taiwan is a "breakaway province" destined for reunification by force if necessary, Washington and its allies are signaling their determination to ensure Taiwan remains a self-governing democracy capable of deterring aggression. As geopolitical tensions escalate, Taiwan's military modernization – bolstered by advanced U.S. weaponry like NASAMS – could prove pivotal in maintaining regional stability. Watch this video about Ukraine using an American NASAMS Air Defense System to attack Russia. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ChannelNewsAsia.com Reuters.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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