Taiwan to buy up to 66 F-16 fighter jets from US [at a cost of US$13 billion]

[Get Ya Wig Split]

TAIPEI: 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 $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.

https://economictimes.com/news/defe...defend-against-china/articleshow/68303297.cms

 

[313ghazi]

Indian Media: Taiwan is buying F-16 to secretly transfer to Pakistan via China because IAF destroyed their entire fleet in black ops sir ji kal strike.

 

[Get Ya Wig Split]

Taiwan asks US for new fighter jets to defend against China

TAIPEI: 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 on Thursday (Mar 7).

"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 US$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 US$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.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...fighter-jets-to-defend-against-china-11321370

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

They've been requesting that for years.

 

[Get Ya Wig Split]

Taiwan to buy up to 66 F-16 fighter jets from US
Increased military ties between Taipei and Washington seen to irk Beijing

TAIPEI -- Taiwan has asked the U.S. to sell F-16 fighter jets, the Ministry of National Defense said on Wednesday night. The news could trigger a protest from Beijing, which positions Taiwan as its "core interest."

Taiwan media reported that the island will buy 66 F-16V jets. Following the reports, the ministry issued a statement saying that it had conveyed to the U.S. through diplomatic channels that it would need to buy new fighter jets to beef up its air defenses.

China has stepped up its military pressure on Taiwan since 2017, with its military flying missions around the island.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy dispatched two vessels in February to the Taiwan Strait to counter China's maritime expansion in the region.

Sale of the F-16 fighters could further ramp up tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The ministry, however, denied reports that the new jets could cost up to $13 billion, adding that it will wait for the U.S. to respond before beginning talks, as prices for the aircraft vary.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/In...wan-to-buy-up-to-66-F-16-fighter-jets-from-US

Republican U.S. senators want Taiwan president to address Congress

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amid tensions between the United States and China, a group of Republican U.S. senators asked House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to invite Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, an invitation that would anger Beijing if it were extended.

The senators, including Cory Gardner, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, released their letter to Pelosi on Thursday, ahead of a March 1 deadline for Washington and Beijing to reach a trade deal.


Relations between China and Washington have been tense in recent months. Many U.S. lawmakers have been critical of Chinese business practices and accused its government of espionage and human rights abuses.

The two countries have taken a 90-day hiatus in their trade war to hammer out a deal, and another round of talks is scheduled next week in China.

A spokesman for the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in the Taipei Times that there is no plan for the president to visit Washington and deliver a speech at the U.S. Congress.

Aides to Pelosi, a Democrat, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...n-president-to-address-congress-idUSKCN1PW237

 

[Imran Khan]

still asking for it ? its been many times USA refused .

 

[Get Ya Wig Split]

16 US senators call on Trump to send Cabinet-level official to Taiwan

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on Monday (March 4) coauthored a bipartisan letter to President Trump to send a Cabinet-level national security official to Taiwan to recognized the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act in April of this year.

In addition to calling on Trump to send a Cabinet-level official, the letter also calls on his administration to fully implement the Taiwan Travel Act and the Asia Reassurance Initiative to reaffirm America's commitment to Taiwan.

In the letter, the senators wrote that the The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) will be holding an official event to celebrate the anniversary in Taipei. The senators believe this is an opportunity, consistent with the Taiwan Travel Act, to "underscore our nation’s enduring commitment to Taiwan’s democracy and its people."

Citing Trump's speech at the APEC CEO summit in Nov. 2017, in which he spoke of his vision of "a peaceful, prosperous, and free Indo-Pacific," they said that, as a "vibrant democracy and free-market economy," Taiwan serves as an "important part of achieving this vision and a shining example of everything we want for the region."

The senators then wrote that the Taiwan Travel Act and Asia Reassurance Initiative Act encourage "high-level officials, including Cabinet-level national security officials, general officers, and other executive branch officials, to travel to Taiwan." They wrote that these sorts of meetings between high-level American and Taiwanese officials are an important way of countering China's aggressive efforts at changing the cross-Strait status quo.

The letter concluded with the request that the Trump administration send a Cabinet-level official to attend the AIT event in Taipei. The senators asserted that sending a senior delegation to the event would send a strong signal to China of America's continued commitment to and support of Taiwan.

In addition to Rubio and Menendez, the following 14 senators also signed the letter: Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Edward Markey (D-MA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rick Scott (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3651090

 

[Jinn Baba]

They should buy JF17 block 3s from Pak or J10C from China - would make availability of parts and adjustments easier when they reunify with China

 

[denel]

still asking for it ? its been many times USA refused .

ever since our memory serves. that is why they went for m2k.

unless TiT decides to stick it to the chinese then a possibilitiy

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

F-16V is vastly inferior to J-10C.

 

[denel]

F-16V is vastly inferior to J-10C.

it is not; on par; j-10c 's engine is its pain point.

 

[Path-Finder]

it is not; on par; j-10c 's engine is its pain point.

hey man, Denel Raptor II. it has done its it job!! almost got bipin

 

[Imran Khan]

F-16 is a drug like cocaine whom become addict of f-16 cocaine is same

 

[denel]

hey man, Denel Raptor II. it has done its it job!! almost got bipin

Tnx pal. any confirmation if they did use h2/h4?

 

[Path-Finder]

Tnx pal. any confirmation if they did use h2/h4?

I think its H4 the pics of the booster rocket dropped near the border have been floating for a week now. I thought you knew!

F-16 is a drug like cocaine whom become addict of f-16 cocaine is same

have you got the pic of the dropped of rocket booster of H4/Denel raptor??