The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has urged the Philippines to promptly remove the U.S. Typhon missile system from its territory, following public pledges to do so. In a statement released on Wednesday, the embassy called on the Philippines to “stop going further down the wrong path.”
The call came after Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro issued a statement on Tuesday, asserting that “the deployment of the U.S. mid-range missile system to the Philippines in the context of joint exercises is completely legitimate, legal, and beyond reproach.” Teodoro also claimed that the Communist Party of China (CPC) criticizes “the modest capability development of the Philippines” while “building up its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capability.”
The Chinese Embassy responded by stating that Teodoro has “baselessly smeared China and maliciously attacked the CPC.” The embassy expressed firm opposition and strong condemnation of his statements, describing them as “unjust accusations filled with ideological bias” rooted in “bloc confrontation and the Cold War mentality.”
Furthermore, the embassy noted that this was not the first time Teodoro had made “unprofessional and ludicrous remarks.” It accused him of obstructing military-to-military contacts and exchanges between China and the Philippines and of openly dismissing discussions and consultations as “the most useless phrase” in maritime dispute settlements.
The embassy emphasized that such words run counter to the instruction of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos to de-escalate maritime tensions through dialogue. It also stated that these comments contradict both countries’ diplomatic efforts to manage differences through communication and consultation.
Reiterating China’s position on the deployment of U.S. mid-range missile systems in the Philippines, the embassy stressed that the region needs “peace and prosperity, not missile systems or confrontation.” It urged the Philippines to “heed the call of regional countries and their peoples” and to have the Typhon missile system “promptly pulled out as it has publicly pledged.”
The issue underscores the growing tensions in the region over military deployments and alliances. As China and the Philippines navigate their complex relationship, the call for the removal of the missile system highlights the broader geopolitical dynamics at play in Southeast Asia.
Reference(s):
China urges Philippines to promptly pull out U.S. missile system
cgtn.com
