Which direction Taiwan?

Taiwan is equipped with the F-16A, Mirage 2000, and F-CK-1 Ching-kuo.

Looking at the various national programmes in the region, the obvious one is mainland China with assorted new fighter projects.

Japan seems to be keeping its iron in the fire with an indigeneous technology demonstrator that may easily lead to a fighter. South Korea seem to also have a project bubbling away on the back-burner.

Taiwan has had to deal with its various traditional suppliers refusing to sell new aircraft when it wants them. The F-16 purchase only came about as its own indigeneous project was coming into fruition.

A person may read much into that.

Is it time for Taiwan to kick on from the Ching-kuo, and start a new fighter project?

This would eaither come to fruition, or at least force the US industry to lobby government to cynically sell their own products once again to enforce reliance once again.

I personally think a developed Ching-kuo, with more powerful engines, or a single more powerful engine (like the F-5/F-20 Tigershark), and some aerodynamic upgrades with some “stealthification”, ala the Gripen NG, would be a step in the right direction for them.

Or perhaps a clean sheet with a new design?