Such a pity.
Instead using those huge budget to buy F-35B vertical take off, they used it to upgrade their old fleet of F-16.
Those F-16s wouldn't fly in a Chinese Invasion. Because the Opening phase of Chinese Invasion would be Massive barrage of Missiles, MLRS, and Artillery rain down on every available Taiwan Airports and Highways that can be used to taking off aircraft.
If those F-16s lucky enough to fly in the middle of Missiles barrage. They would be welcomed by hundreds of J-10C.
Not to mention other Chinese Air Force more capable Fighters like, J-16, Stealth Fighter J-20, and Stealth Fighter J-35
Chinese Air Force J-10C
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One of Crucial weakness of ROCAF is their lack of Capable & Bigger AWACS that can stay long time to support their fighter.
ROCAF only have 6 old and small E-2K.
This is the List of Chinese Air Force AWACS Fleet.
Chinese have hundreds of Big AWACS like KJ-200, KJ-500, and KJ-2000. Also KJ-500 onboard of their Aircraft Carrier Battle Group (CVBG)
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Not to mention again, ROCAF lacks of Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EW).
Meanwhile Chinese Air Force have hundreds of EW Aircraft, like Y-8CB, Y-8G, TU-154MD,Y-9G, Y-9DZ, and the newest one like J-16D (EW Heavy Fighter).
Chinese Air Force J-16D EW Heavy Fighter
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With all of that lack of support (AEW and EW). If those F-16s meet with Chinese Air Force J-10C fleet in a battle. Of course Chinese Air Force of J-10C would have Crucial upper hand