3 October :The first two US-supplied F-16V Block 70 fighter jets have arrived in Taiwan as the island seeks to strengthen its defence capabilities amid growing military pressure from China. The aircraft landed on Friday at Zhihang Air Base in Taitung on Taiwan’s eastern coast as part of a 66-jet order.
Built by US defence company Lockheed Martin, the two fighter jets reached Taiwan via Hawaii and Guam. Although Taiwan signed an agreement to purchase 66 F-16Vs in 2019, delivery has been delayed by several months because of technical and supply-related complications.
Taiwanese Defence Minister Wellington Koo said more F-16Vs would arrive in Taiwan before the end of this year. He did not provide specific details on how many aircraft would be delivered or when they would arrive.
The new F-16V fighter jets are equipped with upgraded avionics, radar and weapons systems. Their addition will bring Taiwan’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets to more than 200 aircraft. The new F-16Vs could be used to counter China’s J-20 fighter jets, according to reports.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan is governed by its own administration as a self-governing island. Taiwan regularly scrambles fighter jets to monitor and deter Chinese military activity around the island.
The United States approved the sale of F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan in 2019. The aircraft are being supplied under a deal worth about $8 billion. The approval for the sale of 66 fighter jets was granted during Donald Trump’s first term as president. However, software and other technical problems have contributed to delays in delivery.
The United States is a key international supporter and arms supplier of Taiwan. Taipei has expressed concern at various times over delays in US weapons deliveries, while Beijing has repeatedly urged Washington to stop supplying arms to Taiwan.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment on the arrival of the new fighter jets. A US State Department spokesperson, however, said Washington stood with its friends and partners, including Taiwan, in advancing shared prosperity, security and values in the Indo-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, questions have emerged over Washington’s position on a new arms package for Taiwan. In May, after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Trump said he had put on hold approval of a new weapons package for Taiwan worth about $14 billion. Earlier, in December 2025, the Trump administration had approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan.
In an interview with Fox News on 27 September, Chinese Ambassador to the United States David Perdue claimed that Trump had at one point asked Xi Jinping whether China was interested in purchasing weapons from the United States. The US State Department later said there was no proposal or plan to sell weapons to China and noted that US law prohibits arms sales to the country.
The United States has so far not supplied Taiwan with more advanced fighter aircraft such as the F-22 or F-35. However, the arrival of the new F-16V Block 70 jets is expected to further enhance the capabilities of Taiwan’s air force, according to the reports.
Source: Reuters and Al Jazeera