Tsai said the hub marks a milestone in her years-long drive to build up Taiwan’s defence industry. The United States last year approved an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would take the island’s F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, the largest in Asia. AIDC’s president, Ma Wan-june, said that the hub would service jets for Taiwan’s air force and that the company plans to expand it as a maintenance hub for F-16s in the region. The United States has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is the island’s main international backer and arms supplier. China said last month it would sanction Lockheed Martin for involvement in arms sales to Taiwan.

Source: bd News24 August 28, 2020 04:07 UTC