The key facts

  • Three F-16 Block 70 jets arrived at Chihan Air Base in Taitung County on Sunday morning
  • Under the 2019 contract worth about 8 billion dollars, Taiwan is to receive 66 such aircraft in total
  • China previously confirmed its 'firm' stance against American arms supplies to Taiwan

Second batch arrives in Taiwan

Taiwan on Sunday received its second batch of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from the United States — three aircraft that landed safely in the morning at Chihan Air Base in Taitung County. This was reported by Taipei's Central News Agency, citing the island's Air Force, Anadolu writes. The jets took off from the Lockheed Martin plant in South Carolina last Tuesday.

Context of the deal and Beijing's reaction

The first batch of two F-16 Block 70 jets arrived in Taiwan last month; under the contract approved by the US administration in 2019, worth about 8 billion dollars, the island is to receive 66 F-16V Block 70 fighters in total. After the delivery of the first two aircraft, China, according to the publication, confirmed its 'firm' stance against American arms supplies to Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province, while Taipei insists on its independence.

What has already been done under the modernization program

The delivery of new aircraft is not the only area of cooperation: under the Phoenix Rising program, the American Lockheed Martin and Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. upgraded 140 F-16A/B fighters to the F-16V Block 20 configuration; this work was completed in December 2023. The deal for 66 new F-16Vs is described in the publication as a significant strengthening of Taipei's air defense amid continued tensions with Beijing.