Trump sends clear message to Xi Jinping, arms Australia with advanced missile | China, Japan, Taiwan

Trump has approved the sale of America’s next‑generation AIM‑260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) to Australia, making Canberra the first foreign - and first Indo‑Pacific - operator of this long‑range air‑to‑air weapon. The US$2.6 billion deal will see JATM gradually replace AIM‑120 AMRAAMs on Australian F‑35As and Super Hornets from the early 2030s, giving the Royal Australian Air Force a “first‑shot, first‑kill” capability against advanced Chinese fighters armed with PL‑15 and PL‑17 missiles. The move sends a direct strategic signal to Beijing and is expected to accelerate a regional air‑combat arms race as other US allies consider similar upgrades.