The Republic of China Ministry of Nationwide Defence has raised considerations over the delayed supply of 66 F-16C/D Block 70 fighter fighter plane by america, which had been ordered underneath an $8.2 billion contract in 2019 and initially anticipated to finish deliveries in 2027. Responding to the delays in deliveries, Premier Cho Jung-tai acknowledged that the federal government didn’t rule out “taking authorized motion in opposition to the producer.” He famous, nevertheless, that the deal was executed by way of the U.S. International Navy Gross sales course of which doesn’t present for direct compensation claims. “Solely underneath Direct Business Gross sales may we pursue such claims,” the minister added, noting that plans had been nonetheless underway to request compensation for the delayed supply interval.
The Republic of China Ministry of Nationwide Defence is by far the most important shopper for the F-16 Block 70/72, a program which was developed completely to focus on export markets of states which for political or financial causes are usually not capable of purchase the fashionable F-35A. On Could 4, 2023, Republic of China Minister of Defence Chiu Kuo-cheng introduced that the F-16s can be delivered a yr late, with deliveries starting within the second half of 2024. The minister elaborated that Taipei had requested the U.S. work to “make up the deficiency,” and was “minimising the harm.” In early June 2025 it was confirmed that america had additional delayed F-16 deliveries, with variety of Taipei-based media sources have reported that it remained unsure to what extent delays would proceed all through the rest of the yr. The Republic of China Air Power had by then confirmed that programs integration points in america have slowed the tempo of manufacturing and deliveries.
Just one fighter, F-16D quantity 6831, has been delivered up to now, and whereas the Republic of China Air Power beforehand estimated that ten of the plane can be delivered in 2025, officers have conceded that this now seems extremely unlikely. Air Power Chief of Employees Lieutenant Common Lee Ching-yen informed the International Affairs and Nationwide Protection Committee that the reason for delays was “provide chain disruptions, workforce shortages at Lockheed Martin, and hardware-software integration testing,” including that the ministry was reassessing the general schedule and adjusting cost milestones to make sure funds weren’t made for undelivered tools. Taipei’s heavy reliance on america for political help, and the reluctance of different nations to contemplate fighter gross sales attributable to its standing as successfully a non-state actor, have nonetheless positioned it in a weak place to demand compensation.
Arms gross sales to the Republic of China have been controversial, as whereas Taipei has continued to say to be the only real authorities of all the Chinese language nation, it has no recognition on the United Nations and isn’t recognised by the overwhelming majority of UN member states together with america. The choice to buy F-16s has itself been controversial domestically, as even the fashionable Block 70 variant has for years been thought of out of date if going through the Chinese language mainland’s very excessive performing fifth technology fleet, and moreso when the mainland begins to operationalise sixth technology fighters within the early 2030s. The F-16 is a fourth technology fighter that first entered service in 1978, with the F-16 Block 70 variant thought of america’ most cost-effective and most conservative ‘4+ technology’ fighter kind, the capabilities of which lag far behind the fashionable F-35.
The choice to produce F-16s was largely a results of tensions between america and the Chinese language mainland underneath the primary Trump administration, though Washington nonetheless rejected efforts by Taipei to obtain the F-35. Efforts by Taipei to order F-16s and F-35s underneath the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations had notably beforehand each led to failure, which makes the most recent F-16 order the Defence Ministry’s first for overseas fighter procurement for the reason that Nineties. The fighters are thought of to be urgently wanted to interchange the Air Power’sFrench equipped Mirage 2000 fighters, which have suffered from excessive crash charges and obsolescence points, with over ten % of the plane having been misplaced in accidents.
