China Fires F-16 Warning at US Ally

Beijing has delivered a pointed response after the U.S. State Department greenlit a nearly $5.6-billion sale of F-16 fighter jets and related equipment to the Philippines.

The sale is in line with other U.S. moves that are "fueling the flames" of territorial disputes in the region, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Why It Matters

The sale comes amid ongoing tensions between China and the U.S. defense treaty ally over the South China Sea, where Beijing's maritime forces have been seeking to normalize their patrols in waters hundreds of miles from Chinese shores and within the Philippines' internationally occupied maritime zone,

This pressure has driven President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to further strengthen security ties with Washington. His administration has committed to spending roughly $35 billion over the next decade to upgrade its aging defense systems and platforms.

Newsweek reached out to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Office of Congressional and Public Affairs for comment.

What To Know

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday announced its approval of a proposed sale to the Philippines of 16 F-16C Block 70/72 fighter aircraft and four F-16D models, along with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, radar systems, spare parts, and training support.

The department said the sale would "support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in Southeast Asia."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the deal during Wednesday's regular press conference, saying the U.S. and its ally "should not target any third party or harm their interests" or "threaten regional peace and security or escalate tensions."

Guo also questioned the motives behind recent regional moves: "Who exactly is fueling the flames? Who exactly is instigating military confrontation? Who exactly is turning Asia into a 'powder keg?' Regional countries are not blind."

Jonathan Malaya, a spokesperson for the Philippine National Security Council, emphasized that the F-16 procurement is intended solely for defense and is not aimed at any specific country.

"We would like to assure the People's Republic of China that the planned procurement of the F-16 fighter jets to the Philippine arsenal does not in any way harm the interest of any third party," Malaya told reporters on Thursday.

The sale follows reports that Manila is also considering acquiring a dozen Swedish-made Saab Gripen-E fighters. While the F-16 purchase may meet the Philippine Air Force's immediate modernization goals, officials have not ruled out supplementing the force with Gripens at a later stage.

The Philippines currently operates a small fleet of FA-50PH jets purchased from South Korea.

What People Are Saying

Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson, Philippine National Security Council, told reporters Thursday: "We would like to assure the People's Republic of China that the planned procurement of the F-16 fighter jets to the Philippine arsenal does not in any way harm the interest of any third party."

The U.S. State Department said in a press release: "[The sale will] increase the ability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to protect vital interests and territory, as well as expand interoperability with the U.S. forces. The Philippines will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces."

What's Next

The proposed F-16 sale will move to the U.S. Congress for review. If approved, the transfer would represent one of the largest defense purchases in Philippine history and a major deepening of military interoperability between Manila and Washington.