THE decision of the Philippines to conspire with the United States in deploying a mid-range missile system in its territory could trigger an arms race in the region, China has warned.
“Let me stress that the Typhon MRC missile system can carry conventional or nuclear payloads. It is not a defensive weapon but a strategic and offensive one,” Mao Ning, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday in Beijing.
Mao said the Philippines’ decision to collaborate with the United States in deploying the Typhon missiles places the country’s national security and defense in the hands of others, leading to increased geopolitical tensions and an arms race in the region.
“Whose interest does this move serve? How can anyone believe this represents an independent foreign policy? What the Philippines is doing benefits no one,” she said.
Mao reminded the Philippines that it had previously assured that it would not choose sides between significant countries, would avoid actions that could harm China’s interests, and had no intention of inciting tensions in the region.
“Despite these clear promises, however, the Philippines has assisted a country outside the region in deploying military forces, thereby escalating confrontations,” she said.
Mao added that the Philippines initially claimed that the Typhon system would only be used during the Balikatan and Salaknib exercises and removed in September after the military drills.
“But then the Philippines reversed its stance, expressing a desire to keep the Typhon system permanently in the country and even plans to acquire additional systems,” she said.
“This is a deliberate violation of the Philippines’ commitments. Who has been making provocations and stirring trouble in the South China Sea? Who has been cooperating with external forces to assert dominance? Who has violated international law while claiming to uphold it? The answer is clear to countries in the region, she said.
Mao added that some individuals in the Philippines need to rethink their understanding, reflect on their statements and actions, and stop distorting the truth while pretending to be the victim.
On Dec. 24, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. released a statement affirming the legitimacy of deploying the Typhon missiles to the Philippines as part of joint exercises with the US. He affirmed that this deployment is both legitimate and legal.
Teodoro said the Philippines is a sovereign nation and should not be viewed as anyone’s “doorstep.” The country’s decisions regarding deploying and procuring assets for its security and defense are based on its sovereign rights and are not subject to foreign interference.
Enhancing the Philippines’ defense capabilities, in line with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), is driven by the nation’s interests and is consistent with its independent foreign policy, he said.
China has reiterated that it will not remain passive if its security interests are threatened.
“Our message to the Philippines: China will not sit on its hands when its security interests are in danger or under threat. The Philippines will be hurting its interests if it keeps refusing to change course,” said Mao Ning, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday in Beijing.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has supported the upgrading of the Philippines’ military capability and blasted Beijing for meddling in the country’s affairs.
Barbers, the chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and also the lead chairman of the House Quad Committee, said that the Chinese government and its leaders have “no business nor moral ascendancy to meddle to what the Philippine government does or wants to do in its effort to upgrade and accelerate its military capability,” such as acquiring missiles and other armaments from the United States.
In a statement on Friday, Barbers said that China is once again resorting to “bullying tactics” by criticizing the government’s actions and decisions to protect its territory and sovereignty.
“The Filipino people, including Senators and Congressmen, should rally and voice out their support to Secretary Teodoro for standing up against the whims and caprices of the China government and its leaders,” Barbers said.
China’s warning that the planned weapons upgrade could intensify geopolitical confrontations and trigger a regional arms race is nothing but a “political BS,” considering that China is planning for world domination by upgrading its military hardware and technology, he said.
Echoing Teodoro’s remarks, Barbers said that if China wants to reduce tensions and instability in Southeast Asia, it should “cease their saber rattling, stop their provocative actions, halt their interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and withdraw their illegal presence inside the country’s 200-mile economic zone and adhere to international law like the Unclos decisions.”
