With the Chinese air force’s constant incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone, the need to maintain defense capabilities and engage in regional cooperation on the matter seems more pressing than ever.
The Indian Air Force published a screenshot from a video conference on their official Facebook profile on Thursday. One of the officials that can be seen in the photo is the chief of Taiwan’s air force, Hsiung Hou-chi.
The screenshot also revealed that high-ranking air force personnel from other countries participated in the virtual conference, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Germany.
Taiwanese lawmaker Wang Ting-yu says that the screenshot indicates that Taiwan is engaging in multilateral cooperation instead of relying solely on its relationship with the US.
The air force is a hot topic in Taiwan following the recent crash of an F-16V
jet. Planes of this model took to the skies again on Thursday, after being grounded since the incident.
The 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, based in Chiayi and equipped with the upgraded F-16V variant, performed 24 sorties in a single day. However, besides the upgrade program, Taiwan is also in the process of acquiring additional 66 F-16 Block 70 jets from the US. Delivery times are still unknown, but according to a recent Reuters news agency report, the US is seeking ways to speed up the process.
The former commander of Taiwan’s air force, Chang Yen-ting, says that since Taiwan is a potential flashpoint, he hopes it can be given priority in terms of delivery schedules. He also says that an average of 14 fighter pilots enter service in Taiwan each year, while around twelve retire.
By the time the final batch of F-16’s is delivered in 2026, Taiwan will have a total of 200 machines of this model. However, with constant provocations from the Chinese air force, personnel training has to keep up with new plane deliveries.