Sunday, July 13, 2025
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result
Home Defence & Military News Air Force News

Taiwan asks US for new fighter jets to defend against China

by Agence France-Presse
March 7, 2019
in Air Force News
2 min read
0
Taiwan asks US for new fighter jets to defend against China
158
SHARES
14
VIEWS

Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for new fighter jets to defend itself against increasing Chinese threats, Deputy Defence Minister Shen Yi-ming told reporters Thursday.

“We made the request to purchase (fighter jets) because China has been increasing its military strength and we are starting to have an imbalance of power in our air defence capabilities,” Shen added.

The request, if granted, could ramp up tensions between China and the United States. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949. China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since the Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including staging a series of military exercises near the island. Chinese bombers and surveillance aircraft have also begun flying much more regular sorties around the island.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but has remained Taiwan’s most powerful unofficial ally and biggest arms supplier.

Last year, the US irked China over its plans to sell a batch of military parts to Taiwan in a USD 330 million contract including standard spare parts for aircraft.

Beijing has been incensed by warming ties between Washington and Taipei, including the approval by the US State Department of a preliminary licence to sell submarine technology to the island.

But fearing a possible backlash from Beijing, the US has repeatedly denied Taiwan’s requests since 2002 for new fighter jets including newer F-16s and F-35s. In that time China has massively ramped up spending on its armed forces, including highly advanced fifth-generation jet fighters.

That has left Taiwan with an ageing airforce that analysts say is in desperate need of an upgrade.

The island currently has 326 fighter jets, all in service since the 1990s, including US-made F-16s, French Mirage 2000s and Taiwan’s own indigenous fighters (IDF). Defence officials would not confirm how many fighter jets they have asked for in the purchase request, or what model.

Local media Apple Daily reported Taiwan was seeking 66 F-16V at a cost of $13 billion including missiles, logistics and training.

“It does not matter if it is F-15, F-18, F-16 or F-35, as long as it fits our combat needs,” Tang Hung-an, a major-general with Taiwan’s Air Force Command Headquarters said.

Tang added that the letter of request to the US did not specify which type of aircraft Taiwan wants.

Tags: AsiachinaF-16F-35Fighter Aircraftfighter jetstaiwanwar
Previous Post

Indian govt in new dogfight over French fighters deal

Next Post

US Warns Turkey Again Over Purchase of Russian Air Defense System

Related Posts

Germany says adding explosive drones to weapons arsenal

Germany says adding explosive drones to weapons arsenal

April 8, 2025

Germany said Friday it would buy explosive drones for the first time as Berlin boosts investments in its armed forces...

F-22 Raptor

Trump, Hegseth Announce Air Force’s Next Generation Fighter Platform

March 21, 2025

During a press conference at the White House today, President Donald J. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that...

Next Post
US Warns Turkey Again Over Purchase of Russian Air Defense System

US Warns Turkey Again Over Purchase of Russian Air Defense System

Latest Defense News

Britain, Germany jointly developing missiles: ministers

Britain, Germany jointly developing missiles: ministers

May 17, 2025
Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

May 10, 2025
Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals

Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals

May 10, 2025
J-10C fighter jet

Pakistan says India has brought neighbours ‘closer to major conflict’

May 9, 2025
North Korea fires multiple suspected cruise missiles

North Korea fires flurry of short-range ballistic missiles

May 9, 2025
China says ‘closely watching’ Ukraine situation after Russian attack

China vows to stand with Russia in face of ‘hegemonic bullying’

May 9, 2025

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Russia - General Discussion.
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • General Aviation Thread
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Indonesian Aero News
  • General Naval News
  • Japan, Koreas, China and Taiwan regional issues
  • Russian Navy Discussions and Updates
  • Mass launch 40 fighterjets Anatolian Eagle exercise
  • European Union, member states and Agencies
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com