Strong, Secure, Engaged

As CIA’s Technical Service Division in Far East, Air Asia in Taiwan had accomplished 30,000 sorties on the legendary F-4 Phantom II jet during the Vietnam War.  Since the late 1960s, the Red China has made significant improvements to its armed forces, a challenge that was driving Taiwan’s intent for a modern F-4 strength.  For purchasing the Free China’s first F-4D squadron in the next fiscal year, the US House of Representatives reluctantly earmarked a budget of 54.5M on Dec. 10, 1969.  Despite the clear need for Chinese Air Force’s ultimate dream weapon, the island state’s requirement was immediately plunged into the political realm amid Washington’s subtle overtures hinting at warmer relations to the Red China.  

Since the US House of Representatives marginally passed providing the F-4 jets to Taiwan by 176 vs. 169 votes on Nov. 20, 1969, the bill has served as a political football for the Congress and Nixon administration.  With none side jockeying in an attempt to come on top, Taiwan was desperate while Chinese position has prevailed with its political clout.  On Dec. 25, the White House declared against the special budget for exporting the McDonnell Douglas F-4 to Taiwan.  Soon both House of Representatives and Senate canceled the bill of Taiwan Phantom acquisition.

In the end, Taiwan’s humiliating solicitation turned out to be a wake-up call for its fighter self-sustainability.  Target on air defence gap, Gen. C.T. Yeh (葉昌桐) met with the COs of the United States Taiwan Defense Command and Military Assistance Advisory Group in 1972.  Surprisingly, the American agreed with Yeh’s co-operation on the new F-5E light weight fighter.  In 1973 the CAF Aero Industry Development Center started the Tiger-II Program (虎安計劃) to build Northrop F-5E single seaters and F-5F two-seat conversion trainers.  In only 21 months, the first CAF F-5E tactical fighter was rolled out for public viewing on Oct 30, 1974, breaking the records of all the Tiger-II joint venture with Northrop.  Around a quarter of the overall Tiger-II production were built in Taiwan, totally 242 Es and 66 Fs emerged from the AIDC Shuinan plant in 1974-86.