Taiwan on Friday received the first two of 65 F-16V fighter jets ordered from the US, the island’s air force said, following years of delays.

The two F-16V Block 70 jets landed at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung. There are 63 more to be delivered. The self-ruled island, which is also claimed by Beijing as part of its territory, placed an order for the F-16Vs in 2019.

Taiwan largely purchases arms from the U.S., its largest unofficial ally, to boost its defences in the face of a military threat from China. China sends fighter jets and ships toward the island almost daily. Taiwan’s defence minister said on Tuesday that the island remains in continuous discussions with the US about its weapons sales.

The shipment is the first in a long list of backlogged U.S. orders worth almost USD 30 billion. The F-16Vs represent USD 8 billion, or roughly 25 per cent of the entire backlog, according to Taiwan Security Monitor at George Mason University.

The order had been delayed partly owing to production and supply chain issues.

The delivery of the jets comes as the island waits for the US administration to approve an additional USD 14 billion arms package.

That package has stalled after U.S. President Donald Trump met with China’s President Xi Jinping in May. US defence sales to Taiwan are a major source of tension between the US and China. Beijing has repeatedly called for Washington to halt sales to Taiwan, with President Xi Jinping personally raising the issue.

Taiwan’s presidential office said on Friday (May 22, 2026) it had not received any information about ​the U.S. adjusting military sales, after a senior U.S. ‌official suggested there was a pause due to ​the need to have enough arms for ⁠the war with Iran.

Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has been waiting for the U.S. to ‌approve a new arms sale package which Reuters has reported could be worth up ‌to $14 billion. However, U.S. President Donald Trump said ‌following ⁠a summit with China’s Xi Jinping in ⁠Beijing last week that he was undecided on whether to approve it.

On Thursday (May 21, 2026), U.S. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao was ​asked at a Senate Appropriations ‌Defense Subcommittee hearing about future arms sales to Taiwan.

“We have done some foreign military sales to them. It’s just right now we’re doing a ‌pause in order to make sure we ​have the munitions we need for Epic Fury — which we have plenty,” he said, referring ⁠to the U.S. operation against Iran.

“But we’re just making sure we have everything, but then ‌the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,” he said, adding it would be up to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Secretary of State Marco Rubio on whether to approve the sales to Taiwan.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei, ‌Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said they had noted ​the remarks.

“However, at present we have not received any relevant information about the U.S. ⁠adjusting these military sales,” she said.

The U.S. is bound ⁠by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. China has repeatedly called ‌for the U.S. to stop arms sales.

Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese ​people can decide their future.