Taiwan receives first advanced F16V fighter jets in milestone moment for its defence against Chinese invasion

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In a milestone moment for its defence, Taiwan has received the first two of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets it ordered from the United States in 2019.

The aircraft arrived in the country on Friday at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung, on Taiwan’s mountainous east coast, after months of delays.

The jets flew to Taiwan via Hawaii and Guam and landed at around noon local time.

The delivery of the jets comes as Taiwan faces increasing military pressure from China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite the island being democratically governed.

The new F-16Vs are substantially upgraded versions of the F-16 and have advanced avionics, radar and weapons systems designed to improve Taiwan’s ability to counter China’s air force. They are intended to help Taiwan deal with advanced Chinese aircraft, including the J-20 stealth fighter.

Taiwan has repeatedly complained about delays affecting US weapons deliveries.

The United States is Taiwan’s most important international security partner and arms supplier, although the two have no formal diplomatic relations.

Taiwanese defence minister Wellington Koo said more aircraft would arrive before the end of the year, although he did not provide a specific timetable. He said: “Of course we won’t only have delivered these two by year-end.”

The United States approved the $8bn sale of 66 Lockheed Martin F-16Vs to Taiwan in 2019. Once all the aircraft are delivered, Taiwan’s combined F-16 fleet will exceed 200 jets.

The programme has faced delays, including problems related to the aircraft’s software.

Taiwan had also completed an upgrade programme for its existing F-16 fleet in 2023, meaning the new aircraft will add to an already modernised fighter force.

The US has stopped short of providing Taiwan with its most advanced fighter aircraft, such as the F-22 or F-35.

The first two F-16Vs reached Taiwan almost exactly one week after US president Donald Trump met Chinese president Xi Jinping in Washington.

Mr Trump has kept a new $14bn weapons package for Taiwan on hold since meeting with Mr Xi in Beijing in May. However, he had previously approved an $11bn package in December last year.

The F-16V deliveries therefore come amid broader uncertainty in Taiwan about the Trump administration’s future commitment to supplying weapons to Taipei, even though Washington says its policy has not changed.

On the broader military threat, US officials currently assess that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan before 2028 is increasingly unlikely, according to people familiar with US thinking, Reuters reported.

Taiwan is due to hold its next presidential election in early 2028.

Taipei continues to view China as a serious and persistent threat, however. “China’s intention to annex Taiwan by force ⁠has never changed,” Mr Koo said.

China strongly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan and has repeatedly called on Washington to stop supplying weapons to the island. At their recent meeting, the Chinese president pressed Mr Trump on Taiwan, saying he hoped the US would “handle the Taiwan question with prudence”.

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