The backbone of the second generation jetfighter fleet has already been put in place, greatly enhancing the nation's combat readiness, an Air Force General Headquarters official said yesterday.
Peng Chin-ming (彭進明), deputy chief of staff of operations, said in a routine press conference yesterday that the various types of new fighters that Taiwan has taken delivery of or has itself built over the past several years have all been put into service and are combat ready. Peng noted that Taiwan's US-built F-16A/B fighters were put into service in January, while the Mirage 2000-5 jet fighters were put into service in May 2001.
The Mirage fighter, along with 130 locally-built indigenous defense fighters (IDFs) and 150 US-made F-16 jet fighters, form the backbone of the nation's second generation warplane fleet.
Peng said that the Air Force will be guided by the principles of "no provocation" and "no show of weakness" in dealing with any military emergencies.
Noting that China has not renounced the option of the use of force against Taiwan and has deployed missiles along the coast opposite Taiwan, Peng said the Air Force will continue to remain on guard as well as step up combat preparedness to ensure security in Taiwan Strait.
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