PH eyes possible U.S. financing to acquire 20 U.S. fighter jets — envoy

The Philippines plans to seek a long-term loan from Washington to acquire 20 "brand-new" F-16 fighter jets and other defense equipment from the United States government, Manila's top envoy to U.S. said Thursday.

"We are looking at possible U.S. loan. Long-term," Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez told GMA News Online, adding the Philippine Defense Department will soon discuss the terms with its American counterparts.

He said the Philippines intends to purchase brand-new F-16s to be delivered "in tranches" like the 10 Blackhawk helicopters acquired by Manila in 2024.

The multi-role helicopters, utilized for search and rescue and humanitarian aid, are part of a contract for 32 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters manufactured by Lockheed Martin under the Philippines' defense modernization program.

The same American company will be manufacturing the F-16s, the sale of which to the Philippines was announced by the U.S. State Department on Tuesday, Romualdez said.

"The State Department approval for the sale of 20 F-16s to the Philippines is another significant sign of the U.S. commitment to our strong alliance and the Trump administration’s deterrence through strength," Romualdez said.

It is the first time a Philippine official provided more details of the U.S.-approved sale of the F-16s, potentially the most ambitious and most expensive acquisition by the Philippines under its military modernization program, which has been delayed by a lack of funds. 

The Philippines is considering to buy advanced fighter jets to upgrade its defense capability from a number of countries, including the U.S., Sweden and France.

The U.S. State Department announced Washington's approval of the major F-16s sale following the visit in Manila of Sec. Pete Hegseth, who announced the Trump administration's support to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines firepower and military capabilities to help deter China's growing aggression in the South China Sea.

Hegseth also reaffirmed the Trump administration's "iron-clad" commitment to its obligations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which obliges the allies to help defend one another in case of an external attack.

Washington’s assistance is crucial to Manila’s efforts modernize its armed forces – one of Southeast Asia’s weakest – as it seeks to strengthen its maritime capability amid an increasingly aggressive China, which has repeatedly harassed and threatened Philippine vessels and aircraft in the West Philippine Sea.    

Manila refers to the stretch of waters in the South China Sea within Manila’s internationally-recognized exclusive economic zone as West Philippine Sea. 

Asia as 'powder keg'?

In a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the military and security cooperation between the Philippines and US should not target any third party.

“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,” he said.

“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,” he added.

Not for specific target

In an interview with reporters Thursday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the Philippines' plan to purchase fighter jets from the United States is not for specific target or state.

''As far as the details are concerned, I have no awareness of that. But the principle of it, the Americans would give us the material for a defensive force, a defensive stance. That’s okay because the details would be worked out still,'' he said.

''But that is not for any specific target or state. It is for our defensive posture,'' he added. —with reports from Anna Felicia Bajo and Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News