Taiwan denies alleged plan to install missiles in West Philippine Sea

HONOLULU, Hawaii — President Benigno Aquino III raised the issue of Taiwan’s alleged plan to install missiles in the West Philippine Sea with an official of the Kuomintang Party on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) here on Saturday.

In his talk with the Philippine media after his Apec-related and bilateral meetings, Mr. Aquino said the Taiwanese side denied knowledge of any such plan that he said has already been reported in some newspapers.

“Wasn’t it in the newspapers that they will deploy missiles? Correct me if I’m wrong but they said that as far as they know, there is no such plan,” Mr. Aquino told reporters.

“We told them that if you introduce more sophisticated weapons into a weapons-free zone, tensions will be raised and that’s not in their interest. I understand that they don’t have any interest to do so,” he added.

Mr. Aquino said he met with Lian Cheng. “He is, I think, at most the honorary chair of the Kuomintang party but he is not a government official,” Mr. Aquino said.

The Philippines’ one-China policy prevents its political leaders, including Mr. Aquino, to meet with those of Taiwan.

Mr. Aquino said the discussions with Taiwan were mostly economic.