Taiwan has indicated that additional U.S. arms sales are in the works, with four packages still awaiting notification to Congress, a senior Taiwanese defence official said on Thursday (Jan 15). This comes after last month’s announcement of an $11 billion (S$14 billion) arms package, the largest ever for the island. Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, the United States remains Taiwan’s most important international supporter and arms supplier. Following the previous deal, China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, conducted military exercises around the island in late December.

Vice Defence Minister Hsu Szu-chien told reporters in Taipei, after a weekly cabinet meeting, that four more arms packages had not yet been formally submitted to Congress, which is required for approval. “Don’t ask me what four these are, I cannot say, but there are still four cases yet to be notified to Congress,” Hsu said, noting he could not provide more details due to legal restrictions. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours. The December package included eight items, such as Lockheed Martin HIMARS rocket systems and Altius loitering munition drones.

In November, President Lai Ching-te announced an additional $40 billion in defence spending through 2033 to reinforce Taiwan’s commitment to defending itself amid growing threats from China. However, Taiwan’s opposition, which holds the most parliamentary seats, has stalled the measure at the committee stage, citing unclear spending details. Defence Minister Wellington Koo is scheduled to give lawmakers a confidential briefing on Monday, with the ministry prepared to provide further explanations. Hsu emphasized, “It is not that we are unwilling to explain — give us an opportunity to explain, a legal opportunity. This is not a ‘black box.’”

The Trump administration had strongly supported Taiwan’s military expansion plans and urged its allies, particularly in Europe, to increase their own defence spending. Hsu added that Taiwan must continue investing in defence given the escalating threat: “Everyone knows the threat we are facing is growing and growing.” Taiwan’s democratically elected government continues to reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims, maintaining that only the island’s people can determine their future.