Taiwan receives first two long-delayed F-16V fighter jets from the United States

Taiwan received the first two of 65 F-16V fighter jets ordered from the United States, following years of delays due to production and supply chain issues. The two F-16V Block 70 jets landed at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung, leaving 63 more jets to be delivered from the 2019 order.

Delivery Backlog

According to the Taiwan Security Monitor at George Mason University, this shipment is the first in a long list of backlogged U.S. orders worth almost USD 30 billion. The F-16Vs account for USD 8 billion, which is roughly 25 per cent of the entire backlog.

Strategic Context

Taiwan mostly buys weapons from the U.S., its biggest unofficial ally, to strengthen its defenses against the military threat from China. China claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and sends fighter jets and ships toward it almost daily. Taiwan's defense minister stated on Tuesday that the island is still in ongoing talks with the U.S. about weapons sales.

Pending Arms Package

These arrivals come while Taiwan waits for the U.S. administration to approve an extra USD 14 billion arms package. That package stalled after U.S. President Donald Trump met with China's President Xi Jinping in May. U.S. defense sales to Taiwan remain a major cause of tension between Washington and Beijing, with Xi personally raising the issue to demand that the U.S. stop selling arms to the island.

Context

Military arms sales between the United States and Taiwan have long been a sensitive diplomatic issue involving major global powers. Beijing consistently opposes foreign military support for the self-ruled island, while Taiwan continues to seek modern military equipment to maintain its defense readiness.