Because It’s not a secret people in the ROC military will betray the country for money and are probably more sympathetic to reunification. And the fear is they steal and give the system for the F35 away.
Here is a good article on why the F35 would crush the Chinese j20. Not just because the F35 is a superior fighter jet. But the whole system they work with is light years ahead of China.
Taiwan has a sizeable Pro-ChiNazi population. Even if that percentage is <50%, or even if it’s <30%, the risk is simply too high. Chinese National Socialism has its appeal and it might take a stronger Taiwanese government another couple of generations to minimize that risk.
Because they’re Maverick and we’re Goose.
Yes, I agree. Unfortunately we still have a large population who still have idea of wanting to establish close relations with China. Nothing wrong with that, but they might go too far with self-interest in mind. Sad.
They would leak like a sieve.
We’ve got to develop more missile and dronetech here. We don’t realky need f35s.
Absolutely agree.
I remember the misfire of 雄三 missile scare the sh** out of China a year or two ago.
And with the capability of targeting a fish boat after the misfire, PLA aircraft carrier actually gave Taiwan a heads-up when passing through Taiwan Strait.
We definitely can develop and built more of those missiles (with longer range) and drones. Technology that will be relatively cheaper and available for us and draw more blood from PLA is an effective deterrent.
Taiwan can educate its population that the role Taiwan will play is by having sufficient amount of land-based and sea-based SAMs that friendly F-35, F22 can remotely fire and control.
Taiwanese population needs an update on what state-of-the-art technologies can do, and what roles TW plays in modern warfare.
The question is moot.
Taiwan hasn’t received F-16s in almost 20 years. The US has not confirmed any new sales. All reports of new F-16 sales to Taiwan are from Taiwan side only.
Anyway, technology is too sensitive and not easy to protect in Taiwan. China would create an uproar over F-16 and bigger uproar over F-35.
TW should focus on how best to integrate its military and population in the overall defence of the region. If TW makes English the official language now, then by the end of the next 20 year, which by my estimation is the peak of the New Cold War, it will be safe to provide TW with the same weapon one would provide with South Korea, Singapore, and Japan.
At this moment there are still a lot of ChiNaZi sympathizers in TW and that’s a huge risk.
Too expensive
Think I might have to change letters this round.
If the question is mute, will anyone answer it? 
Also, how can the question itself be mute? Is it not the voice which enunciates the question? The voice is mute. The question is never voiced. A tree grows in the woods, but if it falls and no one is there to hear it, is it mute?
Sorry TG, maybe a moot point but … 
Tsai has issued instructions to give top priority to speed up production of these missiles.
Not that we should care.
I think Taiwan should spend more money on military R&D, and find ways to spin off new technologies into the private sector.