China Warns US Over Sale of F-16s to Taiwan and the Philippines: China, already angry over the tariff issue with Washington, is now upset over the sale of upgraded F-16s to Taiwan and the Philippines.
Last week, Washington cleared a $5.58 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines in a bid to bolster its military capacity in the face of increasing Chinese belligerence in disputed waters.
F-16V Fighter Jet. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The US has been arming Taiwan and the Philippines to counter Chinese aggression in the region. Taipei received the first of 66 new U.S.-built F-16C/D Block 70 fighter jets last month, while Manila’s request to purchase 16 F-16C Block 70/72 fighter jets, four two-seat D models, AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, radar systems, and spare parts.
A US State Department spokesman told Newsweek, “The United States stands strong with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, and we continue to take decisive actions to counter threats, enhance economic resilience, and advance shared interests.”
The announcement came shortly after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paid a high-profile visit to the Philippines for talks with senior officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during which he vowed to “reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.”
“Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country, considering the threats from the communist Chinese,” Hegseth reportedly told Marcos.
China is Making Threats over F-16 Fighters
Beijing has warned the Philippines not to ‘play with fire’ amid Manila’s military moves that appeared to suggest it would ‘get involved’ if China invades Taiwan. That is just setting the table for China to attack Filipino targets once China attacks Taiwan under the pretense that the Philippines is involved with Taiwan’s defense.
China’s continued belligerence around Taiwan culminated in an exercise conducted back-to-back drills surrounding Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing has vowed to annex, even if through force. China has told its military to be prepared for war by 2027. That timetable seems to have accelerated lately.
China’s Warning Comes After Comments By Filipino Military
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “We advise the relevant people in the Philippines not to provoke and play with fire on the Taiwan issue. Those who play with fire will get burned.”
“The Taiwan issue is China’s internal affairs and the core of China’s core interests. How to solve the Taiwan issue is the Chinese people’s own business, and others are not allowed to make decisions,” Guo said, adding that China opposed the Philippine authorities’ unfounded comments that reverse right and wrong and smear and hype.
Philippine Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner told soldiers on April 1 to “start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan.”
“If something happens to Taiwan, inevitably, we will be involved,” he said.
Beijing is also upset that relations between the US and the Philippines have warmed again due to the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The previous administration of President Duterte favored China over the US.
F-16 Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
China routinely harasses Filipino fishermen around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, which China claims as its own. In February, a Chinese Coast Guard flew within 3 meters (10 feet) of a Filipino Fishing Bureau plane.
China isn’t alone in making claims in the region. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve conflicting island and maritime claims by several sovereign states, namely Brunei, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
“Whatever defense or security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target any third party or harm their interest, still less threaten regional peace and security or escalate tensions in the region,” Guo Jiakun said in Beijing.
“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.”
Filipino Attempts To Calm Frayed Nerves in Beijing Fall On Deaf Ears
“The potential purchase of F-16 jets by the Philippines from the United States does not harm the interests of any third party, including China,” said National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, adding that the sale is only a part of Manila’s efforts to modernize its military.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Taylor “FEMA” Hiester, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team commander and pilot, takes off for a practice demonstration at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Feb. 13, 2025. Hiester leads a team of Airmen charged with showcasing the combat capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon for millions of spectators each year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Meghan Hutton)
Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said that the Philippine side’s reliance on foreign support to “make waves at sea” will backfire, and being a pawn will only be used and discarded.
He added that despite the US F-16 sales to Taiwan and the Philippines, it will not change the situation concerning military strength across the Taiwan Strait, much less impede China’s reunification.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
Jim
April 15, 2025 at 12:10 pm
The Philippines and the United States have a mutual defense treaty and the U. S. has every right and even duty to help the Philippines defend themselves and China has violated the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone in violation of International Law.
Taiwan is a completely different story.
Yes, we can sell Taiwan F-16’s and the Taiwan Relations Act requires the U. S. will help in that regard. Although, China has historically objected to weapons sales to Taiwan, we’ve sold them defensive weapons right along for decades.
But these weapons don’t constitute a block to China’s strategic objective of reunifying Taiwan & China.
They would be washed away like a sand castle being hit by the in-coming tide.
Yahoo warhawks don’t have a grip on this… they act like yahoos upon a fist-fight breaking out and pushing up to the front cheering on the two pugilists the loudest and most obnoxiously…
There is no amount of weapons which will stop China.
The attempt to try and supply (sell) enough weapons to actually defend Taiwan is what is most likely to precipitate China striking Taiwan via blockade (most likely) or invasion.
Or at least accelerate the prospect of such action.
Help defend the Philippine, China may bark, but they respect the Philippines–United States defense treaty and sources suggest China would “cough up” their soft conquest, hard annexation, claims in the South China Sea beyond their legal rights under International Law… if… the United States reaffirms the One China policy with time tables for reunification with China a kin to when Hong Kong was handed back to China from the United Kingdom… which had a time-certain date of handover… which the United Kingdom honored.
This is the best deal.
Take Taiwan out of the equation of possible military conflict and marry it up with China relinquishing claims in the South China Sea beyond their own Exclusive Economic Zone and the China — United States geopolitical relationship can move on to a more stable, predictable, and sustainable relationship over the long-term.
This should be the goal of U. S. policy makers… not sailing into a conflict of grave and irreversible consequences…
The American People have no interest in being sucked-in to an Asian hemispheric war almost 7,000 miles from Los Angeles and a little over 5,000 miles from Pear Harbor.