The US government has approved a series of potential Foreign Military Sales cases for Taiwan, totaling an estimated $11 billion-worth of defense equipment. The transactions would reportedly be the largest arms sale to Taiwan in US history, including rocket systems, aerial drones, and howitzers.
Breaking Defense reports that the US is seeking European allies in a potential conflict over Taiwan. The initiative draws on lessons from Ukraine and leverages European military capabilities.
Taiwan has decided to purchase 10 Lockheed Martin C-130J transport aircraft from the US instead of upgrading its existing C-130H fleet. The decision comes amid rising threats from China and follows the shelving of an extensive upgrade plan due to high costs.
A US-based thinktank has recommended that Taiwan create an 'asymmetric hellscape' made up of thousands of drones to deter Chinese invasion. The report, titled Hellscape for Taiwan: Rethinking Asymmetric Defense, calls on the island to allocate more funding for drone production and development.
STARLUX Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, marking a significant milestone for the Taiwan-based carrier. The new widebody jet features a unique 'carbon-fiber motif' and will initially operate on routes within Asia to build operational experience.
Lockheed Martin has agreed to supply the Taiwan Air Force with 55 Legion infrared search and track (IRST) pods under the US Foreign Military Sales program. The delivery strengthens the F-16 fleet's ability to detect and track airborne targets using passive sensors, addressing an urgent operational need described by the US Department of Defense.
Japan's Ministry of Defense protested a dangerous encounter on December 6, 2025, when Chinese Navy J-15 fighters from the carrier Liaoning illuminated Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15s with fire-control radar near Okinawa. The two incidents, occurring over international waters southeast of the island, represent an escalation in regional tensions.
Breaking Defense reports that China will likely dominate defense and security headlines in 2026, given ongoing tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. Expect standoffs and encounters between Chinese ships and Philippine counterparts, as well as increased PLAN presence in Japan's waters.
The Pentagon has released a new annual assessment, warning that China's military buildup is increasing the vulnerability of the US homeland to threats. The report highlights China's expansion in cyber, space, and nuclear capabilities, as well as its efforts to achieve a 'strategic decisive victory' over Taiwan by 2027.
The US approval of a $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan has elevated tensions across the Taiwan Strait. China's layered approach to GPS disruption using terrestrial and fiber-based assets provides an operational tempo advantage if US forces operate under degraded or deceptive GPS conditions.
Airlines have cancelled flights in and out of Taiwan due to tropical storm Fung-wong's approach. Multiple carriers, including Eva Air, China Airlines, Thai Airways, and UNI Air, have grounded operations at Kaohsiung International Airport.