THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Taiwan needs US weapons for self-defense as threat from China grows, diplomat says Taiwan needs to purchase American weapons to ensure its self-defense in the face of a growing threat from Beijing, the island's top diplomat in the US said, adding that he has seen no change in Washington's policy toward the self-governing island that China claims as its own.

U.S. approves over $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan as tensions simmer The U.S. on Thursday approved $11.15 billion in arms sale to Taiwan, reportedly its largest deal to the island as it faces growing threats from China and has been a subject of diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. The move drew a sharp response from Beijing, with its foreign affairs spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, accusing the U.S. of violating the "one-China principle." "By aiding Taiwan's independence through arms sales, the U.S. will only end up harming itself. Any attempt to use Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail," Guo said, according to a CNBC translation of his speech in Mandarin. TheTaiwanese defense ministry saidthe sale — comprising artillery systems, antitank missiles, as well as spare parts for helicopters and antiship missiles — falls under the$40 billion supplementary defense budgetannounced by President Lai Ching-te in November. Lai last month vowed to build up Taiwan's self-defense capabilities in the face of growing threats from Beijing, seeking to achieve a high level of combat readiness by 2027. He also warned that China was aiming to seize the island by 2027. Lai cautioned of an…

Taiwan hopes new US arms sale package can be approved soon, president ... Taiwan hopes new US arms sale package can be approved soon, president says Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan must not change course in strengthening its own defence capabilities. PHOTO: REUTERS Published Jun 18, 2026, 12:04 PM Updated Jun 18, 2026, 01:01 PM Listen TAIPEI - Taiwan safeguarding its own security and refusing rule by China’s Communist Party should not be seen as a provocation, President Lai Ching-te said on June 18, adding he hoped a new US arms sale package can be approved soon. Democratically governed Taiwan is viewed by China as its own territory and Beijing has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure against the island. Speaking to the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Taipei, Lai reiterated his desire for talks based on “parity and respect” with China, but said Taiwan had a right to protect its interests and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future. “Taiwan’s safeguarding of its own national security and maintaining its democratic and free way of life, its refusal to accept unification, and its refusal to a…

Taiwan needs US weapons for self-defense as threat from China ... Taiwan needs US weapons for self-defense as threat from China grows, diplomat tells AP Didi Tang Associated Press Published: June 17, 2026 at 10:02 PM Updated: June 18, 2026 at 7:09 AM Full Screen 1 / 5 Previous photo Next photo Taiwan's top diplomat in Washington, Alexander Yui Tah-ray speaks during an interview, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Twin Oaks Estate in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Taiwan's top diplomat in Washington, Alexander Yui Tah-ray speaks during an interview, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Twin Oaks Estate in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Taiwan's top diplomat in Washington, Alexander Yui Tah-ray poses for a portrait, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Twin Oaks Estate in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Taiwan's top diplomat in Washington, Alexander Yui Tah-ray speaks during an interview, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Twin Oaks Estate in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Taiwan's top diplomat in Washington, Alexander Yui Tah-ray speaks during an interview, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Twin Oaks Estate in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Copyright …

Taiwan not 'provoking' China, hopes new U.S. arms sale package can be approved soon, President says China's military is extending into the Western Pacific, and its various forms of coercion continue to intensify, Mr. Lai said

Taiwan-U.S. ties are 'rock-solid,' its president says, after Xi warns ... Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te in Taipei on Tuesday. Taiwan Presidential Office / via AP Share Add NBC News to Google Feb. 5, 2026, 4:10 AM EST By Jennifer Jett HONG KONG — Taiwan ’s president said Thursday that its relations with the United States are “rock-solid” after Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed his country’s territorial claims to the island in a call with President Donald Trump . Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. According to a Chinese readout of the wide-ranging call on Wednesday, Xi also warned Trump about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, suggesting that the self-governing democracy could become a more prominent issue in U.S.-China relations after spending months in the background. Like most countries, the U.S. has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which Beijing has vowed to bring under its control by force if necessary. But the U.S. is Taiwan’s most important international backer and is legally bound to supply it with defensive weapons. “Taiwan–U.S. relations are rock-solid and our various cooperation projects will cont…

Taiwan Hopes for $14 Bn US Arms Sale - Eagle Intelligence Reports Taiwan’s president said Thursday he hoped the United States would approve a $14 billion arms sale “as soon as possible”, reiterating that the democratic island “rejectsunification” with China. Taipei relies heavily onWashington’s supportto counter growing pressure from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out seizing it by force. “We hope that the arms purchases can be approved as soon as possible,” President Lai Ching-te told reporters in Taipei. “Taiwan’s efforts to safeguard its national security, uphold its democratic and free way of life, and reject unification and the rule of the Chinese Communist Party should not be seen as a provocation against China or a troublemaker in the region,” he said. The United States formally recognizes only China, but is bound by domestic law to provide Taiwan withthe means to defenditself,a frequent source of tensionbetween Washington and Beijing. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this month the proposed $14 billion package was “under review”, while officials said in May they were assessing whether American weapons stockpiles w…

Taiwan's president defends US arms purchases that Trump called ... There has been a mixed reaction in Taiwan to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on arms sales to the self-ruled island after hearing concerns about it from China’s leader Xi Jinping. (AP video shot by Taijing Wu) In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te speaks during a press conference on “Taiwan-U.S. Economic Prosperity Partnership” in Taipei, Taiwan on Feb. 3, 2026. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP, File) TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s president on Sunday stressed that arms purchases from the United States are “the most important deterrent” of regional conflict and instability, after President Donald Trump called into question continued U.S. support of Taiwan following his visit to China. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and security cooperation between the two sides are not only governed by law but also a catalyst for regional peace and stability, President Lai Ching-te said in a statement. “We thank President Trump for his continued support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait since his first term, including the continuous increase in the scale and …

Taiwan not 'provoking' China, hopes new US arms sale package can be ... By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard TAIPEI, June 18 (Reuters) – Taiwan safeguarding its own security and refusing rule by China’s Communist Party should not be seen as a provocation, President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday, adding he hoped a new U.S. arms sale ​package can be approved soon. Democratically governed Taiwan is viewed by China as its own ‌territory and Beijing has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure against the island. Speaking to the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Taipei, Lai reiterated his desire for talks based on “parity and respect” with China, but said Taiwan had a right to protect its interests and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future. “Taiwan’s safeguarding of its own national ‌security ​and maintaining its democratic and free way of life, its refusal ⁠to accept unification, and its refusal ⁠to accept rule by the Chinese Communist Party should not be seen as a provocation against China,” he added. China calls Lai a separatist and has rebuffed his multiple offers of dialogue. China’s military is extending into the Western Pacific, and its various forms of coerci…

Taiwan not 'provoking' China, hopes new US arms sale package can be ... Taiwan safeguarding its own security and refusing rule by China's Communist Party should not be seen as a provocation, President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday, adding ‌he hoped a new U.S. arms sale package can be approved soon. Democratically governed Taiwan is viewed by China as its own territory and Beijing has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure against the island. Speaking to the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club in Taipei, Lai reiterated his desire for talks based on "parity and respect" with China, but said ‌Taiwan had a right to protect its interests and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future. "Taiwan's safeguarding of its own national security and maintaining ‌its democratic and free way of life, its refusal to accept unification, and its refusal to accept rule by the Chinese Communist Party should not be seen as a provocation against China," he added. China calls Lai a separatist and has rebuffed his multiple offers of dialogue. China's military is extending into the Western Pacific, and its various forms of coercion continue to intensify, Lai said. "It is ⁠clear that ​Chi…

Taiwan hopes US arms sale package can be approved soon, president says Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te reiterates his desire for talks based on 'parity and respect' with China.

Taiwan's president says the U.S. arms sales that Trump called a ... Taiwan’s president on Sunday stressed that arms purchases from the United States are “the most important deterrent” of regional conflict and instability, after President Donald Trump called into question continued U.S. support of Taiwan following his visit to China. Recommended Video U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and security cooperation between the two sides are not only governed by law but also a catalyst for regional peace and stability, President Lai Ching-te said in a statement. “We thank President Trump for his continued support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait since his first term, including the continuous increase in the scale and amount of arms sales to Taiwan,” he said. His statement came days after Trump raised doubts over his willingness to continue to sell arms to Taiwan, the island democracy that China claims as its own breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary. The U.S., like all countries that have formal ties with China, doesn’t recognize Taiwan as a country but has been the island’s strongest backer and arms supplier. Washington is bound by its own laws to provide Taiwan…