LEGISLATIVE ACTION: The defense minister and air force chief of staff were quizzed about the F-16V and the Chengdu J-20, and if the government was still eyeing F-35s
Taipei Times
Date: Sep 24, 2019
By: Aaron Tu and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA
A draft bill that would pave the way for NT$250 billion (US$8.05 billion) in funding for Taiwan to buy
Minister of National Defense Yen De-fa yesterday speaks during a question-and-answer session of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
The bill, which was approved by the Cabinet and signed off by Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on Sept. 5, would allow the government to create a special budget of up to NT$250 billion to procure a new fleet of more advanced F-16 jets to reinforce and modernize the military fighter fleet.
The bill will now be sent to a cross-caucus negotiation.
The US Department of State approved the sale of 66 F-16Vs on Aug. 20.
The government and Washington still have to sign a letter of offer and acceptance to finalize the sale, which is expected to happen by the end of this year, the air force has said. [FULL STOry]
