Taiwan is exploring buying arms worth billions of dollars from the United States, sources briefed on the matter said. Taiwan is hoping to win support from the new Trump administration as China continues to apply military pressure on the island. Taiwan strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future. Taiwan’s defense ministry declined to comment on specific purchases but said it is focused on building its defenses. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, US national security adviser Mike Waltz has said he wants to speed delivery of weapons to Taiwan. The top US diplomat in Taiwan, Raymond Greene, will retain his post, three sources told Reuters, even as other US diplomatic postings undergo major reshuffles. The U.S. State Department also removed language on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence, a move praised by the island’s government. Trump unnerved chip powerhouse Taiwan on the election campaign trail by saying the island stole American semiconductor business. This month, he threatened tariffs on chip imports. But his administration maintained diplomatic support for the Chinese-claimed island.
