The State Department on Wednesday formally notified Congress of a $1.83 billion arms sale package for Taiwan.
State Department officials said the package includes two frigates, anti-tank missiles, amphibious assault vehicles and Stinger surface-to-air missiles.
Congress has 30 days to review the sale and raise any objections.
State Department spokesman David McKeeby said the deal was consistent with the U.S. commitment to provide sufficient weapons to maintain Taiwan's ability to defend itself.
China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, has said the sale should be canceled in order to avoid harming relations between Taiwan, China and the United States.
"The United States should be fully aware that the arms sale to Taiwan is highly sensitive and dangerous," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday. "The U.S. should abide by its commitment and stop arms sales to Taiwan, and do something more conducive for China-U.S. relations and the peaceful development of the cross-strait relations."
