Taiwan Says F-16 Deliveries Delayed, Working to Minimize Damage

Facts

• Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Thursday that the delivery of 66 advanced new F-16Vs from the US has been delayed due to supply chain disruptions.¹
• In 2019, the US approved an $8B sale of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. Delivery on the sale is set to increase the total number of the island's F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, making it the largest in Asia.¹
• The delivery of the first batch of F-16Vs has reportedly been delayed from Q4 2023 to Q3 2024, due to pandemic-related supply chain issues.²
• In addition to ordering 66 new F-16Vs, Taiwan has also been working on converting 141 F-16A/B jets into the F-16V type. Chiu has called on the US to "make up the deficiency," including by prioritizing spare part deliveries for the existing fleet.²
• The Taiwanese ministry has said it is using diplomatic channels, such as going via the de facto US embassy in Taipei — known as the American Institute in Taiwan — to resolve the problem.³
• Michael McCaul, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, promised he was doing all he could to speed up the weapons deliveries during a visit to Taiwan last month.³

Sources: ¹DT next, ²CNA, and ³Reuters.

Narratives

• Anti-China narrative, as provided by Time. China is a threat to the US, and American foreign policy needs to address this. By supporting Taiwan, the US is helping to protect democracy abroad and challenge the dominant power in the region.
• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Asia Society. Taiwan is rightfully a Chinese sovereign territory. The US has official diplomatic ties with China and only unofficial diplomatic ties with Taiwan. American political and military support of Taiwan needs to stop if Washington wants to avoid escalating tensions.

Predictions