An Air Force soldier runs next to F-16V fighter jet as the pilot prepares for an evening take off as part of a combat readiness mission at the airbase in Hualien, Taiwan, August 17, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Lockheed Martin said on Tuesday it was working to accelerate delayed deliveries to Taiwan of new F-16Vs, after the island's defence ministry said the programme had been pushed back due to supply chain issues.
Taiwan, which faces a rising military threat from Beijing, has complained of repeated delays to weapons ordered from the United States, the Chinese-claimed island's most important international backer and arms supplier.
