Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2025 shows the US Capitol building in Washington, DC, the United States. Photo: VCG

Taiwan's regional "defense authority" on Thursday "thanked" the US for a new round of arms sales worth about $11.1 billion that has been formally notified to the US Congress. However, a Chinese expert said that the packages involve neither advanced nor latest systems and the real intent of US arms sales to Taiwan is to extract profits from the Taiwan authorities and local taxpayers while reaping substantial financial gains. 

Taiwan's regional "defense authority" claimed on Thursday that the US government has formally notified Congress of eight arms sales packages to Taiwan with a total value of $11.1054 billion. Meanwhile, the US Senate on Wednesday passed a compromise version of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, in which it fully funds a so-called "Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative" at $1 billion, media reported on Thursday.

According to Taiwan media outlets, the island's "defense authority" claimed that the US has continued to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defense capabilities, rapidly building resilient deterrence capabilities, and leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages — all of which "form the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability." 

The latest arms sales are the largest ever US weapons package for the island, and the second under US President Donald Trump's current administration, a Reuters report noted. The proposed arms sales cover eight items, including HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munition drones and parts for other equipment, the report said, citing Taiwan regional "defense authority."

The arms sales deals are expected to take effect formally in about a month, according to Taiwan media.

Chinese mainland military affairs expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Thursday that under the Trump administration, judging from the arms sales list, it is quite clear that the weapons being sold to Taiwan are not advanced systems or new ones, with many approaching obsolescence. 

"The real intention of the US arms sales is to extract profits from the Taiwan authorities and local taxpayers while reaping enormous financial gains. Whether labeled as arms sales or cooperation initiatives, these deals amount to money-wasting military purchases for Taiwan, which not only fails to enhance its defense capabilities but also imposes heavier financial burdens on the island," Song noted. He further noted that this time, there is still no guarantee the deliveries will arrive on schedule. 

Supplying the Taiwan authorities with more US weapons under the banner of enhancing "self-defense" closely serves the US's practical and commercial interests. What is presented as a "security commitment" is, in reality, an arms-selling arrangement that urges Taiwan to build a defense system largely at its own expense and based on US equipment, the expert noted.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the US Senate on Wednesday passed a compromise version of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, a nearly $1 trillion bill setting policy for the Pentagon, which has said Republican President Donald Trump will sign it into law. 

The bill, per Reuters, fully funds a so-called "Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative" at $1 billion, authorizes funding for US forces to continue training for Taiwan and requires the Pentagon to seek to establish a joint program with Taiwan to field drone and anti-drone systems.

Netizens in Taiwan have angrily slammed the Lai authorities on social media for selling out the island and acting as a "cash machine" for the US. They noted that enormous amount of money has been sent, but the promised arms have not been delivered, yet the DPP authorities continue to express gratitude.

A netizen commented, "The Lai Ching-te authority is once again spending the people's hard-earned tax money. Is this what it calls strengthening defense? Such an approach will only further strain Taiwan's finances!" Another remarked that "Just look at Taiwan's urban landscape — instead of properly investing in building and improving Taiwan, they would rather spend money on outdated, second-rate US military hardware."

KMT chairperson Cheng Li-wen also previously criticized Lai for turning the Taiwan Straits into a powder keg and transforming the island into an arms factory, following Lai's announcement to add an additional $40 billion defense budget, Taiwan media outlet udn.com reported in November.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council has repeatedly criticized the Lai authorities for pandering to the US to pursue "Taiwan independence." On December 3, Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, slammed the DPP, saying it is driven by political self-interest and has shown servile deference to external forces, currying favor with them at all costs. 

"Their approach of fawning over and kowtowing to the US is devoid of principles, while their actions of selling out and harming Taiwan know no bottom line. The US has always adhered to an 'America First' policy and cares only about its own interests. In the eyes of Americans, Taiwan's real value lies in being a 'piece of fat meat' and a 'cash machine' — a pawn to contain the Chinese mainland and a tool to serve US interests," the spokesperson continued.

"No matter how much the DPP authorities attempt to arm the island, its military cannot match the size or strength of the PLA. Efforts are therefore futile, and confronting China would lead only to a dead end," Song warned.