By Deutsche Welle
Taiwan signed six arms acquisition agreements with the United States for a total of 6,627 million dollarsamid Taipei’s efforts to improve its defensive capabilities in the face of growing military pressure from China, it was reported on Wednesday (04/22/2026).
The contracts were signed earlier this month by Taiwan’s defense mission in the United States and by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT, Washington’s de facto embassy on the island), according to the CNA news agency.
The operation is salvaged a few weeks before the possible trip of US President Donald Trump to Chinawhere it is expected that in his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, Taiwan will be one of the central issues, since for Beijing it is the biggest “red line” in its relations with Washington.
The agreements include $3.919 million for the purchase of HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems and another $2.344 million for M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzers.
Aid package totals USD 11.1 billion
The remaining contracts cover the replenishment of the Army’s missile reserves, the acquisition of anti-armor missiles, the joint production of large-caliber ammunition between Taiwan and the United States and the contracting of “consulting services” linked to the development of an integrated air defense system.
The acquisitions were completed after the Taiwanese military announced that the US had agreed to allow deferred payments from Taipei. for the purchase of 82 HIMARS systems and 60 M109A7 systems.
These systems are part of a broader weapons package, valued at $11.1 billion and notified to the US Congress in December of last year, the largest approved to date for the island.
The Taiwanese government, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, aims to finance these acquisitions and future weapons purchases. through a special Defense budget of 39.7 billion dollars, which has the support of the US administration.
