The Chinese Defense Ministry has criticized the United States for selling F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan and the Philippines.

“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,” a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Newsweek.

Newsweek has emailed both the Philippine and the Taiwanese militaries for comment.

Why It Matters

Communist China has vowed to “unify” with self-ruled Taiwan. It recently conducted a two-day military exercise around the island, heightening tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

China also has territorial disputes with the Philippines over the resource-rich South China Sea, where maritime forces from both sides have engaged in standoffs and clashes.

Under a U.S. maritime containment strategy, Taiwan and the Philippines are part of the First Island Chain, which forms the first line of defense against China from a U.S. strategic perspective.

The U.S. has been arming Taiwan and the Philippines. 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 and four two-seat D models was approved earlier this month.

What To Know

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said at a press briefing on Wednesday that the sale of U.S. fighter aircraft to Taiwan cannot alter the balance of military strength across the Taiwan Strait, “much less impede China’s reunification.”

The spokesperson called the U.S. arms sales “double-standard acts,” breaching the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, in which Washington recognized Beijing as the sole legal Chinese government and “acknowledged” Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China.

In a statement to Newsweek on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department reiterated that arms sales to Taiwan are consistent with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which requires that Washington provide Taipei with “defensive weapons.”

The U.S. will continue to provide Taiwan defense articles and services to support its self-defense capabilities, “commensurate with the threat Taiwan faces,” said the spokesperson.

With regard to U.S. arms sale to the Philippines, the Chinese military spokesperson said “outside countries” led by the U.S. have continued to destabilize the South China Sea through providing weapons to Manila, claiming that their true intention is to make “troubles.”

The spokesperson urged Washington not to undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as not to threaten and coerce China on the pretext of honoring bilateral treaties signed with Manila.

“This approach will simply not work,” he said.

A 1951 mutual defense treaty states that an attack on either the U.S. or the Philippines in the Pacific region would prompt the partnered countries to take action, including armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea.

“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” said the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency when announcing the F-16 sale to the Philippines, adding that it would improve its strategic partner’s security.

What People Are Saying

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said: “To the Philippine side, relying on foreign support to ‘make waves at sea’ will backfire and being a pawn will only be used and discarded.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Newsweek: “Our continued security assistance to Taiwan is to deter war and create space and confidence for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait differences.”

What Happens Next

The U.S. is likely to continue to sell weapons to both Taiwan and the Philippines, as the Trump administration is pushing U.S. allies and partners to boost their defense spending.