Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/23
By: Matt Yu and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) A draft bill that would pave the way for NT$250 billion in funding for Taiwan to buy 66 F-16V fighter jets from the United States passed a preliminary review by a legislative committee on Monday.

The draft bill, which was approved by the Cabinet on Sept. 5, would allow the government to create a special budget of up to NT$250 billion (US$8.07 billion) to procure a new fleet of advanced F-16 fighter jets to reinforce and modernize Taiwan's military jet fleet.

The Legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee completed a preliminary review of the draft bill Monday, and it will now be sent to a cross-caucus negotiation.

The U.S. State Department approved the sale of 66 F-16 C/D Block 70 fighter jets, known as the F-16Vs, to Taiwan on Aug. 20.    [FULL  STORY]