WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has approved a proposed sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, setting up a contentious fight with lawmakers and raising fresh concerns about the kingdom’s military relationship with China. The proposed package is valued at about $24 billion and would make Saudi Arabia the second country in the Middle East to operate the advanced stealth aircraft. Israel currently has a fleet of roughly 50 F-35s, and U.S. policy has long committed Washington to preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge” over other countries in the region. Congress must approve the sale before a U.S. defense contractor can begin negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Lawmakers have questioned whether Riyadh could protect the aircraft’s highly sensitive technology from Chinese access, given Saudi Arabia’s close military ties with Beijing. “It could put the crown jewels of American military technology within reach of the Chinese Communist Party,” Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said. The State Department said the sale would not change the region’s military balance. The administration is presenting the aircraft as part of a broader effort to support Saudi Arabia as it faces recurring missile and drone attacks from Iran and renewed fighting involving Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. The proposal also comes amid President Donald Trump’s close relationship with Saudi leaders. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, helped persuade Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund to invest $2 billion in his private equity firm between Trump’s administrations, a connection likely to draw additional scrutiny as Congress reviews the deal. Israel is expected to oppose the sale because of concerns that Saudi access to the F-35 could erode its military advantage. The United Arab Emirates’ proposed $23 billion purchase of the aircraft was paused in 2021 after the Biden administration raised concerns about Abu Dhabi’s ties to Beijing and its use of Huawei 5G technology. The Saudi deal therefore faces two significant hurdles: congressional approval and assurances that the aircraft’s systems and supporting technology will remain secure. Until those questions are resolved, the administration’s announcement does not guarantee that the jets will be delivered.