TAIPEI/WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Thursday the U.S. government was proceeding with an $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest ever U.S. weapons package for the island, which China views as its own territory.
The Taiwan arms sale announcement is the second under U.S. President Donald Trump's current administration, and comes as Beijing ramps up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.
The proposed arms sale covers eight items, including HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, drones and parts for other equipment, Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement.
"The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self‑defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power and leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages, which form the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability," it added.
The ministry said the package is at the Congressional notification stage, which is where Congress has a chance to block or alter the sale should it wish, though Taiwan has widespread cross-party support.
Pushed by the United States, Taiwan has been working to transform its armed forces to be able to wage "asymmetric warfare", using ;mobile, smaller and often cheaper weapons which still pack a targeted punch, like drones.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and neither did China's foreign ministry.
Washington has formal diplomatic ties with Beijing, but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island's most important arms supplier. The U.S. is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though such arms sales are a persistent source of friction with China.
Trump's penchant for dealmaking and his planned visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping next year, have kindled fears in the region of weakening U.S. support for Taiwan.
But U.S. officials told Reuters at the outset of Trump's second term this year that they had plans to ramp up weapons sales to Taipei to a level exceeding Trump's first term as part ;of an effort to deter China.
The Trump administration's national security strategy unveiled earlier this month said the U.S. aimed to deter conflict over Taiwan by "preserving military overmatch" against China in the region, language welcomed in Taipei.
The strategy also highlighted Taiwan's strategic importance due to ;its location dividing "Northeast and Southeast Asia into two distinct theatres".
China views Taiwan as its own territory, a position Taipei rejects.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Michael Martina; Editing by Chris Reese and Michael Perry)
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