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The Land-Locked Strategy: The Reality of Recent U.S.-Taiwan Arms Deals

We will sell you the bricks to build your wall, but you must be the ones to stand upon it.…

In the humid evening air of Taipei, December 2025, General Chen stood on the balcony of the Ministry of National Defense, his eyes fixed on the latest intelligence satellite feeds. Just yesterday, December 17, Washington had officially notified Congress of an unprecedented $11.1 billion arms package—the largest in history.

But as Chen scrolled through the manifest, the “specialized knowledge” of modern warfare told a story far more complex than a simple show of support.

The “Porcupine” Shift: Why Land Weapons?

The package was heavy on what the Trump administration calls “Asymmetric Deterrence.” Critics might say the U.S. is avoiding a challenge to China’s naval supremacy, but military strategists see a transition to the “Porcupine Strategy.”

  • HIMARS and ATACMS: The deal includes 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and 420 ATACMS missiles. While these are “land-based,” their 300km range allows Taiwan to strike Chinese ports and staging areas before an invasion fleet even leaves the dock.

  • The Drone Revolution: Over $1 billion of the deal is dedicated to loitering munitions (suicide drones). In 2025, the lesson from recent global conflicts is clear: cheap, land-launched drones can disable billion-dollar destroyers.

  • The Mobility Factor: By focusing on mobile howitzers and truck-mounted Harpoon missiles rather than large, vulnerable warships, the U.S. is forcing China to play a deadly game of “hide and seek” against a coast that bites back.

The Geopolitical Tightrope

The story in the halls of the White House is one of “Burden Shifting.” President Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy emphasizes that allies must pay for their own “overmatch.”

  • Economic Pragmatism: The U.S. defense industry is facing a shift. With the administration pushing for a “Peace Through Strength” legacy—and even eyeing a Nobel Peace Prize—there is a pivot toward selling high-margin, high-volume “Ukraine-style” munitions. This clears out aging stockpiles while fueling American factories, preventing an industrial downturn.

  • Avoiding the Carrier Clash: On December 16, 2025, China’s newest carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Washington’s response was notably restrained. By selling Taiwan defensive “denial” weapons rather than offensive “projection” platforms (like advanced stealth bombers or long-range carrier killers), the U.S. maintains a calculated ambiguity. It provides the “shield” without handing over the “spear” that would trigger a direct superpower clash.

The 10% GDP Demand

The most striking part of this new era isn’t just what is being sold, but the cost. The Trump administration has signaled that Taiwan should spend up to 10% of its GDP on defense. For Taipei, this is a bittersweet reality: they are receiving the “Greatest Arms Deal,” but it is a business transaction designed to turn the island into a fortress that defends itself, so the U.S. Seventh Fleet doesn’t have to.

Announces
Included
Excluded
Trump Administration
Largest Arms Sale to Taiwan in History
Equipment Scope
Land-based Combat Items
Sea & Air Deterrents
Focus: Terrestrial Defense
Gap: No deterrent against maritime or aerial threats

As General Chen watched the lights of Taipei, he knew the message from Washington was clear: We will sell you the bricks to build your wall, but you must be the ones to stand upon it.

All names of people and organizations appearing in this story are pseudonyms


US announces $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, largest ever

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