On Thursday, Taiwan deployed the most advanced version of the F-16 fighter jet with the help of the US arms maker Lockheed Martin.
Taiwan commissioned 64 F-16Vs that were upgraded by Lockheed Martin from F-16A/B jets, an older model from the 1990s. In total, by 2023, the US firm plans to upgrade 141 fighter jets for Taiwan.
At an air force base in Chiayi, Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen commissioned the warplanes and said the project was an example of the strength of US-Taiwan relations. “This represents the steadfast promise of the Taiwan-US partnership,” she said.
In addition to the upgrades, Taiwan ordered 66 brand new F-16Vs from Lockheed Martin in 2019. Worth about $8 billion, the new F-16Vs are expected to be delivered beginning in 2023.
Since Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979, the US has continued to sell weapons to the island. As the US is more focused on countering China in the region, arms sales have spiked in recent years. The increased tensions mean good business for companies like Lockheed Martin.
China hawks in Congress want to give Taiwan money to purchase more US arms. Earlier this month, two separate bills were introduced by Republicans in the Senate that would give Taiwan billions in military aid each year.
“China hawks in Congress want to give Taiwan money to purchase more US arms. Earlier this month, two separate bills were introduced by Republicans in the Senate that would give Taiwan billions in military aid each year.”
The first reaction is “What a racket!” The pols give Taiwan taxpayer dollars to buy hardware from Lockheed-Martin who in turn give money to the pols. And it is certainly that, but it’s more. Taiwan, like Israel, and like Crimea was intended to be, is a US geo-strategic Fort Apache. And as with the plains Indians, and the Mid-East, the US every bit intends to dictate, exploit, and appropriate the ensuing wealth extraction of the area.
As long as the military industrial complex makes money, who really cares if the world is destroyed? For the “republic of china” (which was tossed out of the UN when the PRC was recognized as representing China in the 1970s) to pretend a few US weapons and planes will frighten China is as ridiculous as the recent Australian “60 Minutes” tirade suggesting Australia should plan to stop the yellow/red menace from its obvious desire to invade the “lucky country”!!!!!
F-16s are not even an equal match for China’s Sukhois and if they put up J-20s the Taiwan F-16s would be easy prey.
This is all show and dollars for the MIC, I dont think Taiwan would even seriously try to fight the Chinese.