TAICHUNG, Taiwan (Reuters) – Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen promised Friday to defend the island with a “solid” air force when she launched a US-backed maintenance center for the island’s fleet of upgraded F-16s. fighters amid growing tensions between Taipei and Beijing.
The aircraft of the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) flies in formation at an inauguration ceremony of a maintenance center for F-16 fighter jets, in Taichung, Taiwan 28 August 2020. REUTERS / Ann Wang
Frequent Chinese and American military exercises in the region create fears of conflict fueled by a crisis over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory.
“It takes solid defenses, not bent and shrinking, to defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China and maintain regional peace and stability,” Tsai said in a ceremony discovering the island’s first maintenance hub in central Taichung town. for its most advanced F -16s.
The Republic of China is the formal name of Taiwan.
Tsai said the hub marks a milestone in its years-long drive to build Taiwan’s defense sector.
“The time required for jet maintenance will be greatly shortened and the availability will be significantly enhanced, ensuring the combat power of the air force at the frontline,” she said.
Tsai has complained about increased Chinese military exercises and warned Thursday for the risk of accidental conflict.
The hub, led by U.S. arms maker Lockheed Martin Corp. and Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC), is the latest example of military cooperation between Washington and Taipei.
The United States last year approved a $ 8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would take the island’s F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, the largest in Asia.
AIDC President Ma Wan-June said the hub would serve jets for Taiwan’s air force and that the company plans to expand it as a maintenance hub for F-16s in the region. He refused to work out.
The United States has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is the island’s main international support and arms supplier.
China said last month that it would sanction Lockheed Martin for involvement in arms sales to Taiwan.
Reporting By Yimou Lee. Edited by Gerry Doyle
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