Taiwan takes delivery of first two long-delayed US-made F-16V jets, with dozens more and a larger arms package still pending

Key facts

• Taiwan received the first two of 65 F-16V fighter jets ordered from the United States, after years of delays, with 63 more jets still to be delivered.
• The two F-16V Block 70 jets landed at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung.
• Taiwan placed the order for the F-16Vs in 2019.
• The delays were partly due to production and supply chain issues.
• The delivery is the first in a backlog of US arms orders to Taiwan worth almost USD 30 billion; the F-16Vs represent USD 8 billion, or roughly 25 per cent of the backlog, according to the Taiwan Security Monitor at George Mason University.
• Taiwan is awaiting US approval of an additional USD 14 billion arms package, which has stalled after US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.
• China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and sends fighter jets and ships toward the island almost daily.
• Beijing has repeatedly called for Washington to halt arms sales to Taiwan, with President Xi Jinping personally raising the issue.