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The United States has officially inked a roughly $700 million defense contract to supply Taiwan with advanced air defense systems.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, China has made no secret of its ambitions to bring Taiwan under its control (by force if necessary) with President Xi Jinping reportedly eyeing 2027 as a potential timeline for such an operation. In recent years, China has stepped up preparations that signal possible invasion planning, including the development of specialized landing barges, ramping up production of amphibious assault vehicles, and increasingly complex naval drills simulating island takeovers. At the same time, Taiwan is spending shitloads of money to bolster its defenses, rapidly upgrading missile systems, expanding its submarine program, and conducting frequent military exercises to prepare for a potential conflict.

What’s going on now: The United States just awarded a $698.9 million firm-fixed-price contract to Raytheon for the production of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) destined for Taiwan. This is part of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement, meaning Taiwan is footing the bill, using funds from its fiscal year 2026 defense budget. The work will be carried out in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by February 28, 2031.

The system Taiwan is buying is a significant upgrade: NASAMS is a medium-range air defense solution designed to intercept aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles using the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, backed by a multi-mission radar and a sophisticated command-and-control suite.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense welcomed the deal, emphasizing that NASAMS will be a new addition to the island’s air defense arsenal and will integrate with existing medium- and long-range missile systems to form a multi-layered air defense network. They described the system as capable of providing active surveillance, fire control, and real-time threat management, all of which will strengthen Taiwan’s ability to defend its homeland.

As expected, China is not thrilled. Beijing condemned the sale, accusing the US of interfering in its internal affairs and undermining regional stability. Chinese officials once again claimed Taiwan as an “inseparable part” of China and warned that continued arms sales could lead to “serious consequences.”

Raymond Greene, the de facto US ambassador to Taiwan, stated that “America’s commitments to Taiwan are rock-solid,” and added that the US is backing its promises with real action.