Taiwan Set to Receive Delayed US F-16 Fighter Jets Amid Rising China Threat

Deliveries of delayed F-16V fighter jets for Taiwan will begin this year with production at full capacity, as announced by Taiwan’s defense ministry after senior defense officials’ visit to the United States. Facing a growing military threat from China, Taiwan has expressed frustration over repeated delays in receiving weapons from the US, its key international supporter and arms provider. In 2019, the United States approved an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, expanding the island’s F-16 fleet to over 200 jets.