Spokesperson's Remarks｜China urges Philippines on issues such as Typhon missile system not to stay on the wrong path
Regarding Philippine President Bongbong Marcos's remarks on China's reactions to the missile system in the Philippines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that China will not sit idly by when its security interests are harmed or threatened. Countries in the region will by no means accept this move that goes against the trend of the times. China calls on the Philippines to change its course, and make a strategic choice that truly serves the fundamental interest of itself and its people, rather than staying on the wrong path and hurting the Philippines itself when it comes to issues like Typhon.
It's reported that recently Philippine President Bongbong Marcos said that he doesn't understand China's comments on the missile system in the Philippines. He said, "we don't make any comments on their missile systems and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have." He also offered to remove the Typhon missile system deployed by the U.S. military from his country if China ceases its "aggressive and coercive behaviour" in the South China Sea. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro says that the Philippines plans to acquire its own midrange system, and they have the right to field these deterrent capabilities.
Guo said at a regular press conference in Beijing that regarding the U.S. deployment of Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system in the Philippines, China has made clear the grave harm of such deployment and stated our firm opposition to it on multiple occasions. On this issue, the Philippines has gone back on its words again and again.
Guo noted that the Philippines has explained itself multiple times regarding the introduction of the Typhon system, pledging that the deployment was "temporary", and that the system will be shipped out of the country after relevant military exercises. However, it has breached such commitments, claiming they would acquire its own midrange system and field these deterrent capabilities, and linking the South China Sea issue with the Typhon system. This is not only ridiculous but also extremely dangerous.
"As is widely known, Typhon MRC missile system is a strategic offensive weapon, which puts a large number of Southeast Asian countries within its range. The U.S. deployment of the system in the Philippines severely damages peace and stability in the region, and harms the legitimate security interests of other countries. The Philippines has worked with the US to bring in the Typhon system. It's placing its national security and defense in the hands of others and introducing geopolitical confrontation and risk of arms race into the region, which does no one good." Guo said. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)
