The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. The announcement comes less than a week after U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited Manila, where he reaffirmed U.S. commitment to its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.
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00:00The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to
00:05the Philippines.
00:07The department says the 5.5 billion U.S. dollar sale will improve the Philippines' security
00:13as it faces increasing pressure from China.
00:16Beijing and Manila have repeatedly clashed over disputed islands in the South China Sea
00:21in recent months.
00:23China claims the entire sea, something the Philippines and other nearby countries have
00:27challenged.
00:28The Philippines' military has welcomed the possible F-16 sale.
00:32It comes less than a week after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the country,
00:38where he pledged to help strengthen deterrence against China.