US Delivers First F-16V Fighter Jets to Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions With China

The United States has successfully delivered two newly purchased F-16V Block 70 fighter jets to Taiwan, bolstering the island's defense capabilities against potential threats from China.

Built by US defence contractor Lockheed Martin, the aircraft are part of a major $8bn deal for 66 F-16Vs initially approved during the first term of President Donald Trump. Following months of delays caused by repeated appeals from Beijing demanding the US halt its arms sales to Taiwan, the jets finally touched down at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung on October 2, 2026.

The aircraft completed their journey by flying through Hawaii and Guam, arriving just a week after President Donald Trump held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. Taiwan remains deeply concerned about the escalating military pressure from Beijing, which claims the democratically governed island as its own territory.

Minister of National Defence Wellington Koo addressed the ongoing deliveries, stating, “Of course we won’t only have delivered these two [F-16Vs] by the end of the year.” Meanwhile, questions persist in Taiwan regarding the long-term commitment of the Trump administration to Taipei's defense. Although the US maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is legally bound to supply the island with necessary self-defense capabilities.

Despite withholding a separate $14bn package following a meeting in Beijing, President Donald Trump previously approved an $11bn package in December 2025. Reaffirming Washington's official stance, a US State Department spokesperson stated, “We continue standing with friends and allies across the Indo-Pacific to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values — that includes Taiwan.”

Equipped with advanced avionics, radar systems, and upgraded weaponry as of 2023, the F-16Vs are designed to effectively counter the Chinese air force, including J-20 stealth fighters. However, Washington continues to withhold its most advanced fighter aircraft, such as the F-22 or F-35, from Taiwan.