Taiwan's Air Force appears to be bleeding experienced pilots just as it prepares to take delivery of new American fighter jets — bad news for the island's air defenses.

• Penalties paid by officers who quit before finishing their required service have more than doubled since 2025, and pilots pay the steepest ones.
• Bonus money set aside to keep senior pilots in uniform has fallen four years running, a sign that mid- and top-ranking officers keep walking.
• The likely cause is exhaustion: China's constant probing flights around Taiwan mean far more sorties and drills.
• Many departing pilots go straight to commercial airlines, where the pay is better and the hours are calmer.
• The timing is awkward — Taiwan needs 107 more pilot officers for a new wing flying the 66 F-16 Block 70 jets it bought from the US, with the first arriving within days.

Outlook: Taiwan's overall volunteer force is growing next year, but the Air Force risks ending up with plenty of junior pilots and too few veterans to lead them.