The deal includes spare parts for warplanes and radar systems as President Lai heads to the Pacific, with stops in the US.
The United States has signed off on $385m in new arms sales to Taiwan, the latest sign of deepening military ties that have unsettled China.
The United States expects to begin delivering military equipment, including spare parts for warplanes and radar systems, by 2025, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement on Friday.
The sale approved by the US State Department will ensure that Taiwan “can meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness” of its F-16 fleet, the DSCA said.
On Saturday, Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te embarked on a trip to the Pacific, with a planned stop in the US sparking China's fury.
China claims to be a self-governing democracy and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve its goal of unification. It has long opposed US arms sales to Taiwan.
While heading Saturday to the Pacific islands of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, Lai will stop in the US state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam in his first foreign trip since taking office in May.
In a speech shortly before take-off, Lai said the trip “has ushered in a new era of values-based democracy” and thanked the US government for “helping make the trip smooth”.
China's Foreign Ministry said it opposes Taiwan's leaders “running away” from the US, which despite having no official ties is the island's biggest arms dealer and supporter.
The US should “handle the Taiwan issue with great caution, firmly oppose Taiwan's independence, and support China's peaceful reunification”, said spokesman Mao Ning.
The State Department responded that it did not see “justification for private, routine, and illegal travel to be used as an excuse for provocation”.
'Strengthen our security partnership'
This is the 18th arms deal announced during the administration of US President Joe Biden, according to Taiwan, which has been seeking to expand military relations with its partner.
Last month, the US approved a $2bn arms sales package for Taiwan, including advanced surface-to-air missile and radar systems.
The Ministry of National Defense in Taipei “expressed its gratitude” to the US for military support and said it was willing to strengthen its defenses in the face of Chinese military pressure.
“Taiwan and the United States will continue to strengthen our security relationship,” it said.
China has increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years with daily deployments of warplanes and warships around the island.
On Saturday, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said it had found 18 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels and two balloons in the 24 hours to 6am (22:00 GMT Friday).
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