Taiwan Inaugurates First Squadron Of F-16V Advanced Fighter Jets, Can Face China's J20 Stealth Fighter Jets

An illustration of a Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet. (Wikimedia Commons/Al Jazeera English)

JAKARTA - Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen lauded military cooperation with Washington on Thursday, when she unveiled the first squadron of modernized F-16 fighter jets with US assistance.

This inauguration boosts the country's defenses amid rising tensions between Taipei and Beijing.

Frequent Chinese and US military exercises in the region have raised fears of a crisis-triggered conflict over democratically-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory.

During an inauguration ceremony for the first squadron of the most advanced F-16V F-16 at an air base in Chiayi City, southern Taiwan, President Tsai said this project demonstrates the strong commitment of Taiwan's partnership with the United States.

"I believe that as long as we adhere to the values of democracy and freedom, there will be more like-minded countries standing in front of the same as us," he said, speaking on the same stage as the top US diplomat in Taiwan, Sandra Oudkirk.

The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is the island's main international backer and arms supplier, a condition that angers Beijing.

An illustration of a Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet. (Wikimedia Commons/Al Jazeera English)

The Ugprade of the F-16, valued at 110 billion Taiwan dollars, or about 3.96 US dollars, was jointly carried out by the Lockheed Martin manufacturer with Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC). It is known that Taiwan has converted 141 F-16A/B jets into the F-16V type, 64 of which have been upgraded.

This includes ordering 66 new F-16Vs, which have new avionics, weaponry and radar systems so that they have the capability to engage the Chinese Air Force, including the J-20 stealth fighter.

To note, the F-16V fighter jet can carry Raytheon Technologies Corp's advanced AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

In front of President Tsai and the rest of the audience, the new F-16 fighter jets showcased their take-off and landing capabilities in combat situations, as well as low-flying maneuvers in formation over the runway.

President Tsai said the more F-16V fighter jets entered service, Taiwan's defenses would be 'stronger'. Meanwhile, although the Taiwanese Air Force is well trained, it is dwarfed by China.

To note, the United States in 2019 approved an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would bring the island's F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, the largest in Asia.

Meanwhile, China has announced sanctions against Lockheed Martin for selling weapons to Taiwan.