Taiwan is reportedly considering acquiring French Rafale fighter jets as its fleet of Mirage 2000s nears the end of its operational life. The CEO of Dassault Aviation, which manufactures the multirole jets, has confirmed Taiwan’s interest in acquiring the Rafale fighter jet, reported The EurAsian Times. Eric Trappier, however, emphasised that any such sale would be a political decision for the French government rather than the manufacturer. Operationally, the acquisition of the Rafale would strengthen Taipei’s air defence and precision strike capabilities, experts sayThe decision will not be easy for Paris as Beijing vehemently opposes any Western weapons sale to Taiwan, terming it an assault on China’s sovereignty. Given China’s rising economic heft, France would be cautious in antagonisi

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