 Taiwan obtained an initial batch of American F-104 Starfighters in 1960–61, and eventually received over 200 of these aircraft, all of which were withdrawn from service in the early 1990s.The Starfighters were operated by the 2nd/499th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hsinchu, the 3rd/427th TFW at Ching Chuan Kang AB, and the 5th/401st Tactical Combined Wing at Taoyuan.In May 1999 it was reported that China had built a replica of Ching Chuan Kang AB at a site near Dingxin airport () in the northwest province of Gansu, presumably to train units assigned to attack the Taiwanese facility in the event of conflict.