Philippine officials have welcomed US approval of the sale of F-16 fighter jets to the country. The move comes as China's maritime activities in the South China Sea grow increasingly assertive.



The US government announced on Tuesday that it had given the green light to the Philippines' request to buy 20 of the jets, along with other military equipment. The total value of the deal is $5.58 billion.



Philippine officials say the sale would significantly upgrade the country's arsenal. Manila added that purchases of security equipment are for the country's defense and do not target any state.
China's Foreign Ministry has denounced the move. It said such measures between the US and the Philippines undermine regional security.



Guo Jiakun, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, said on Wednesday, "Any defense and security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target a third party or harm their interests. It should also not threaten regional peace and security or escalate tensions."



Washington's announcement came days after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's trip to Manila.
He reiterated America's "ironclad alliance" with the Philippines in the face of "communist China's aggression" in the Indo-Pacific region.