On December 18th 2025, the United States (US) State Department announced its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan, totalling 11.1 billion USD. The weapons package – consisting of advanced artillery systems and military software – mirrors a similar defence assistance provided to Ukraine following Russian aerial attacks. This development marks a rise in American support for Taipei’s security amid rising military pressures from China. At a broader scale, it reflects US efforts to fortify deterrence strategies in East Asia through enhanced military presence and financial backing of its regional allies (Al Jazeera, 2025). Within the context of a great power rivalry, the East Asian region has witnessed a rise in unique security chambers rooted in an ‘America First’ rhetoric – notably, the growing US-Taiwan and US-Japan alliances. As a result, concerns rise over the implications of increased US military aid to Taiwan and neighbouring states for extended deterrence tactics and the ensuing consequences for regional security. Will enhancing the armed presence of a Western power serve as a damper or catalyst for conflict in East Asia? How effective is this strategy in preserving regional autonomy and peace when faced with Chinese retaliation? Drawing on diplomatic statements, news reports, and academic publications, this paper utilizes the Taiwan arms package and its US alliance to broadly explore the effectiveness of deterrence and alliance politics in relying on increased military assistance to enhance stability in the East Asian region. The case study of Taiwan is utilized as a critical point of reference for the greater East Asian region due to its strategic significance within the current US-China rivalry and other contemporary American alliances.

Al Jazeera. (2025, December 18). US approves $11bn in arms sales to Taiwan in deal likely to anger China. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/18/us-approves-11bn-in-arms-sales-to-taiwan-in-deal-likely-to-anger-china