The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday declined to respond to a local media report that Taiwan had completed the design of its own third-generation fighter jet with Russian expertise, saying only that Taiwan has never stopped research and development for new weapons.
A story published by the Chinese-language China Times yesterday quoted an unnamed military official as saying that the government-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC), which sent personnel to Russia for instruction from Russian experts, has finished designing the third-generation warplane.
It did not specify which Russian agency or company was involved.
The China Times quoted the official as saying that during the design process, Taiwanese and Russian experts studied the design of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the US’ most advanced fighter jet, but added that it was shorter than the JSF.
To deter any possible attack from China, Taiwan has sought to buy the more advanced F-16C/Ds, or JSFs, but Washington has not approved the request, so far agreeing only to upgrade Taiwan’s F-16A/Bs. This has prompted Taiwan to build its own third-generation warplanes for self-defence, the paper said. The F16C/D deal, worth at least NT$100 billion (US$3.3 billion), would have been Washington’s biggest arms sale to Taiwan since 2001.
“It is always the ministry’s job to continue development and research on new weapons to fit the needs of defending the country. But details of the process will always be something on which we cannot comment,” MND spokesman Major General Yu Sy-tue (虞思祖) said yesterday when asked for response to the China Times story.
Yu did not deny nor confirm the report. When asked for comment, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方), a member of the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee, said it was not a good idea to seek help from Russia.
Lin said he did not believe that Russia would turn its back on China by helping Taiwan develop new jet fighters.
“I would buy it if you said that Russia would simply sell us engines. But, to help us develop new engines? Excuse me, I just don’t buy it,” Lin said.
Lin said he was optimistic about buying F-16C/D Falcons from the US, adding that he would lead a team to the US in September to help the MND seal the F-16C/D deal with the US government.
Also See: China envoy to visit Washington
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS