MANILA, Philippines – The Foreign Ministry of China on Thursday expressed its opposition on the deployment of the U.S.’s Mid-Range Capability missile system in the Philippines, stressing that this will create “tensions” and “antagonism” in the region.
During the regular press briefing of China’s Foreign Ministry in Beijing, Spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated its call on the Philippines to “pull out” the Typhon missile launchers amid its redeployment to a new site, as confirmed by a senior government source, Reuters reports.
“On the US deployment of Mid-Range Capability missile system in the Philippines, China has made clear its opposition more than once. Let me stress again that by bringing this strategic offensive weapon into this part of the world, the Philippines is essentially creating tensions and antagonism in the region and inciting geopolitical confrontation and an arms race,” Mao said.
“This is a highly dangerous move and an extremely irresponsible choice for its own people, the people of the other Southeast Asian countries, and regional security,” she added.
According to reports from Reuters, a senior Philippine government said that the US military has moved the missile system to another location in Luzon, from Laoag airfield.
The redeployment would help determine where and how fast the missile battery could be moved to a new firing position. That mobility is seen as a way to make them more survivable during a conflict, the report stated.
Reports from Reuters also mentioned the Tomahawk cruise missiles in the launchers can hit targets in both China and Russia from the Philippines; while the SM-6 missiles it also carries can strike air or sea targets more than 200 km (165 miles) away.
The Typhon system is part of a U.S. drive to amass a variety of anti-ship weapons in Asia, according to a Reuters report.
“We once again call on the Philippines to heed the call from regional countries and their peoples, correct the wrongdoing as soon as possible, quickly pull out the Typhon missile system as publicly pledged, and stop going further down the wrong path,” Mao said.
China to U.S.: Stop interfering in South China Sea issue
Mao also stressed that the U.S. has “no right to interfere” in the maritime issues between China and the Philippines.
In a separate press briefing earlier, Mao said that the military cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.
This is in reaction to a State Department’s spokesperson’s statement saying U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the United States’ “ironclad commitments” to the Philippines under the countries’ mutual defense treaty and that Rubio and his Filipino counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, discussed Beijing’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.”
China reiterated that its activities in relevant waters are legitimate, lawful, and fully justified.
“The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in the maritime issues between China and the Philippines,” Mao said.
The military cooperation between the US and the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, still less should such cooperation support or advance the Philippines’ illegal claims, Mao added.
“China will continue to take necessary steps to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Mao stated.
