China now has better fighter jets than Taiwan, according to a military report by the island's defence ministry as the air force renewed its bid to obtain new F-16s from the United States.
Of the three types of fighter jets in Taiwan's air force, only the F-16A/Bs have a slight edge over the Chinese aircraft, the report by the defence ministry found.
Analysts have said they doubt Washington would risk angering Beijing by approving the sale of more sensitive items such as the more advanced F-16 C/Ds.
Taiwan's air force consists of some 60 ageing F-5s, 126 IDFs, 146 F-16A/Bs and 56 Mirages.(Source: Defensetalk.com, Mar 9, 2010).