Washington Delivers First Batch of F-16V Jets to Taipei Amid Heightened China Tensions

Taipei worries the Trump administration may not remain fully committed to supplying the island with advanced weaponry.

Published On 2 Oct 20262 Oct 2026

The United States has shipped two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets to Taiwan, bolstering the island’s defensive posture against what it describes as an escalating threat from Beijing.

Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the jets are part of an $8 billion agreement covering 66 F-16Vs sanctioned during Trump’s first presidential term. After months of postponement following intense pressure from Beijing, the aircraft finally touched down on Friday.

The planes routed through Hawaii and Guam, landing at noon local time (04:00 GMT) — one week after Trump held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.

Beijing continues to assert sovereignty over Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that views itself as a distinct nation.

“We certainly won’t finish delivering all these F-16Vs by year’s end,” said Defence Minister Wellington Koo.

The delivery arrives as unease grows in Taipei over whether the Trump administration will sustain its arms commitments.

While US law mandates supplying Taiwan with defensive capabilities, the two sides maintain no official diplomatic ties.

In May, after meeting Xi in Beijing, Trump hinted at withholding a proposed $14 billion arms package, although he did greenlight one worth $11 billion in December 2025.

The State Department maintained that policy has not shifted.

“We remain steadfast in supporting friends and allies throughout the Indo-Pacific — including Taiwan,” a State Department spokesperson stated.

Upgraded in 2023, the F-16Vs feature state-of-the-art avionics, weapons integration, and radar designed to counter the Chinese air force, including its J-20 stealth fighters.

Still, Washington has ruled out transferring its most cutting-edge platforms, such as the F-22 or F-35.

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