I came across a news article reporting that - based on commercial satellite evidence - China was expected to deploy its fourth regiment of J-10 fighters later this year. This should bring the total number of fielded J-10s (not including test aircraft) to 112:
http://upiasiaonline.com/Security/2008/05/27/china_boos...jet_deployment/7667/

On the other side of the Taiwan strait, as many of us are aware, Taiwan has recently elected a new government, clearing the way for Taiwan's long delayed buy of 66 F-16C's to proceed:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/20/216161/...16-fighter-deal.html

It sounds like we have the makings for a regional arms race to heat up.

I would like to see F-15's sold to Taiwan instead...but understand logistically (due to existing aircraft inventory) that providing the F-16 makes more sense.

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt_Schlappy:
I would like to see F-15's sold to Taiwan instead...but understand logistically (due to existing aircraft inventory) that providing the F-16 makes more sense.

Well, Taiwan already has the older F16A/B model in large numbers (136), plus several Mirage 2000s but the more, the merrier, considering the kind of odds the ROCAF (Taiwan's Air Force) will face from both the PLAAF and the PLANAF.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/taf-toe.htm

quote:

Taiwan already has the older F16A/B model in large numbers (136)

Yeah, that's what I meant by "logistically" making more sense than the F-15.

F-10's comabat capacity is around or euqall to USAF F16/C .

What is the type of F16 Taiwan air force is using. I reckon F-10 can beat french Mriage . But if somehow taiwan had acquire the F16/C/D then the real winner is still a question mark

I have read some analysis by some aeronautical expert , and they concure that the chinese F-10's totall perfromance and fight effectiveness is around or equal to Japanese misbishi F-2 fighter and USAF F-16/C .

the funny thing both the CHinese and Japanese newly developed iron bird both are derivation from the US F16 .

I don't understand why US concern the Taiwan's weapon equipment
Taiwan is part of China,not a independent country. It was divided from mainland in 1949 after a civil war. So it's not strange that selling weapon to Taiwan was regard as interfering China's interior affair by Chinese people and government

quote:

Originally posted by LiberationArmyFan:
I don't understand why US concern the Taiwan's weapon equipment
Taiwan is part of China,not a independent country. It was divided from mainland in 1949 after a civil war. So it's not strange that selling weapon to Taiwan was regard as interfering China's interior affair by Chinese people and government

son, you are way to naive , not all the people from the world thinks and doing things as you do .

quote:

Originally posted by xiajing:

quote:

Originally posted by LiberationArmyFan:
I don't understand why US concern the Taiwan's weapon equipment
Taiwan is part of China,not a independent country. It was divided from mainland in 1949 after a civil war. So it's not strange that selling weapon to Taiwan was regard as interfering China's interior affair by Chinese people and government

son, you are way to naive , not all the people from the world thinks and doing things as you do .

hehe, that's not our concern. Most of the countries in the world admit the fact Taiwan is part of China, including you US
If anyother nation or country interfere our affair in the future, let's go and see
Don't underestimate our nation's will on keeping nation's independence and dominion