O.K. I admit trying NOT to follow politics more than necessary anymore. But I think everyone would agree that for the last 15, or 20 years every high tech gizmo they've bought in this country came from Tiawan. With China overtaking them in the last 5 years or so.
Being a world leader in producing technological products, HOW IS IT their military is still flying Huey's and Chinook helecopters?!? THEY dont even trust the CRAP they produce enough to use it?!?


Who are we talking about Taiwan or PRC?
Chinooks are the best helicopter in it class in the world. Apaches can't keep up with them as far as speed or at altitude which pisses of sh#t hot Apache flyers to no end.
Chinooks are spread through out NATO and most of the SE Asia. Boeing upgrades and services them world wide.
The old Huey is past its prime but still used in more countries than than the new Blackhawks. Still flown by the USMC because it uses many of the same parts as the Super Cobras. A twin engined Huey is still an A list machine.
Be happy the Taiwan Army buys our stuff and not the French or Brits aircraft which are very good. Why try and develop when it's cheaper to buy if your allowed to.
As Timothy stated, the Chicoms fly copies of old Soviet stuff. The J-8 fighters were slight modifications of the Su-7 (?) type. The Reds copied the DC-9 and couldn't get it to even take off. They fliy a home grown version of the Mig-29. I think they fly Hinds as well. The Soviets gave them everything to get started.
We have a 70 years head start on the Chicoms on engine technology and avionics. They can use old airframes and I'm sure they will copy anything they can lay their hands on.
I agree with Timothy, they are more likely to copy and build than create new ideas.
FQ13 - A T34 was a great tank and very advanced. You did hit on an important point. T-34 was designed to be mass produced. Tigers, King Tigers and Leopards were not.