TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US approval of a potential NT$10.72 billion (US$330 million) arms sale for Taiwan, the first during President Donald Trump’s second term, is said to dispel speculation that he might use Taiwan as a bargaining chip.

Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a division director at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told CNA the sale continues Trump’s shift from a case-by-case review of Taiwan arms sales, bringing it closer to the model used for NATO countries. He said the arms deal strengthens Taiwan's resilience against China’s gray-zone tactics.

Before meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in October, Trump said that “Taiwan is Taiwan” and that he has “a lot of respect for Taiwan." Su said the sale sends a political message that “dispels rumors that Trump would trade away Taiwan.”  

Shu Hsiao-huang (舒孝煌), an associate research fellow at the institute, described the sale as a continuation of prior military sales to maintain aircraft readiness. He said spare parts and logistics are as crucial as major platforms because without them, combat capability cannot be sustained.

Shu said that formal arms sales under Trump have yet to begin and both sides are likely negotiating specific equipment. As China’s threat to Taiwan grows, any acquired systems must be capable of addressing new forms of attack.

He said Taiwan must carefully assess the equipment it needs and clearly define “what kind of war it needs to be prepared to fight.”