Why Taiwan is racing against time as it waits for US missiles and defence systems

Taiwan is waiting because President Donald Trump has not approved a proposed US$14 billion sale of American weapons and equipment. Taiwan wants the package to deter China and improve its ability to resist a potential attack. The delay also tests Washington’s long-standing security support for Taipei.

The package includes Patriot missiles, an automated command and control system, and a 360-degree air-defence radar. Taiwan plans to use these systems in its layered T-Dome air-defence network. Funding is expected to come from a US$25 billion defence bill passed by Taiwan’s parliament in May.

Trump has treated arms sales as a possible bargaining chip with China. He met Chinese President Xi Jinping in May while both countries tried to ease trade tensions. US officials also reviewed whether American weapons stocks were sufficient for Iran operations. Taiwan says it needs the weapons quickly, because production, delivery and training cannot happen immediately.

The T-Dome is Taiwan’s planned multi-layered air-defence system. Its purpose is to counter a potential Chinese attack by protecting Taiwan from air threats. The system matters because Taiwan is expanding its own weapons production but still relies on American equipment for important defence capabilities.

The proposed package contains three critical components: Patriot missiles, an automated command and control system, and a 360-degree air-defence radar. Radar can provide broad coverage, while command systems help organise the defence response. Patriot missiles would provide the means to engage incoming threats. Together, the systems would strengthen the resilience of Taiwan’s strategic air defences.

The T-Dome is still being developed, so its effectiveness depends on more than buying equipment. Taiwan must secure approval, receive the systems, produce or integrate them, and train personnel. Military expert Su Tzu-yun said these systems could strengthen Taiwan’s defences, but the article gives no completion date.

The proposed package is US$14 billion, making it larger than Taiwan’s previous record US$11.1 billion weapons package. The difference is US$2.9 billion. That scale signals how much Taiwan is trying to spend on strengthening its defences against a potential Chinese attack.

The earlier record package was approved by Washington in December. By comparison, the new proposal would be about 1.26 times as large, or roughly 26 percent bigger. It includes Patriot missiles, an automated command and control system, and a 360-degree air-defence radar. These items are intended to support Taiwan’s developing T-Dome system.

The larger figure does not mean the weapons are already available. Trump has delayed approval, and a US official said the sale might be divided into smaller packages. Taiwan’s officials say they mainly want the weapons, whether Washington approves one package or several. Delivery and training would still take time.

Delays could reduce how quickly Taiwan strengthens its ability to defend itself. The package is intended to support a multi-layered air-defence system, but the equipment cannot protect Taiwan until it is approved, produced, delivered and placed into service. Taiwan is therefore racing against time as it prepares for a potential Chinese attack.

The practical problem is visible in the proposed T-Dome. Patriot missiles, a 360-degree radar and automated command systems must work together. Taiwan also needs personnel trained to operate them. Military expert Su Tzu-yun warned that acquiring weapons is not like ordering at a drive-through because every stage takes time.

If the sale remains delayed, Taiwan could wait longer for stronger strategic air defences. Splitting the package might allow some equipment to move sooner, but the article does not say whether that would happen. It does say a US official believes the chances of smaller chunks have increased, while Taiwanese officials say they want the weapons in any format.

The diplomatic switch did not end US security commitments to Taiwan. Washington changed diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but it continued to follow commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act. Those commitments include providing Taiwan with weapons for its defence.

This framework explains why the United States has sold Taiwan many billions of dollars’ worth of arms over time. The December package, valued at US$11.1 billion, was the most recent approved deal mentioned in the article. The current proposal would provide Patriot missiles, radar and command systems for Taiwan’s planned T-Dome air-defence network.

The arrangement remains politically sensitive because China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes American military support for the island. Trump has also said US arms sales could be a bargaining chip with China. Even so, Taipei has reminded Washington of its commitments, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said American policy on Taiwan has not changed.

Trump may delay or split the sale because Taiwan arms are tied to the wider US-China relationship. He met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in May as both leaders sought to ease trade tensions. Xi warned that missteps over Taiwan could push the United States and China into conflict. A US$14 billion sale could therefore threaten their trade truce.

Trump has also described arms sales to Taiwan as a possible bargaining chip with China. After the summit, he said he would make a determination about whether to proceed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later said the package was under review. US officials also assessed whether American weapons stockpiles were sufficient for operations in Iran.

A US official said the chances of dividing the sale into smaller chunks had increased. That approach could let Washington provide some equipment without approving the full package at once. Taiwanese officials say they do not care whether the arms arrive as one package or several; they want the weapons.

Deterrence is the effort to prevent an attack by showing that aggression would meet strong resistance and carry serious costs. In this case, Taiwan wants US weapons not only to fight if attacked, but also to make an attack less attractive to China. The article describes this as strengthening Taiwan’s ability to deter China.

The proposed package offers a concrete example. Patriot missiles, an automated command and control system, and a 360-degree radar would support Taiwan’s T-Dome air-defence system. These capabilities could make Taiwan’s air defences more resilient. Wang Ting-yu said the sale would signal US support and show Beijing that an attack would not face “Taiwan alone.”

Deterrence depends on credible capability, not just a political statement. Taiwan must receive the equipment, integrate the systems and train its personnel. The article therefore links deterrence to timing: if approval and preparation take too long, the systems cannot enter service and become effective quickly.