Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.–Photo from the The official Facebook page of the Philippine Department of National Defense
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday said the Philippines would continue with its capability upgrade, including the possible acquisition of intermediate-range missile launchers from the United States despite the objections of China, which described it as a “provocative” and “dangerous” move.
Speaking to reporters after the change of command ceremony at the Philippine Navy headquarters, Teodoro revealed the plan for the government to buy US missile systems as part of the military’s capability upgrade.
The defense chief said the planned acquisition of a missile system not limited to the US Typhon missile system.
READ: DND stands up to China: You have ‘no business’ telling PH what to do in its EEZ
“Because there must be consent to sell. However, we are planning to have such kinds of capabilities. I’m not saying the Typhon. I’m saying such kinds of capabilities,” he said.
Philippine officials maintained that China has no business interfering its sovereign acts of the Philippines that stem from Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea.
“The whole world knows who is on the right path and who is on the wrong path,” Teodoro said. “Definitely we cannot take advice from people who distort the truth, and nobody believes them anyway.”
The defense chief said it would be “a waste of airtime to broadcast the claims of China,” citing that “only their leadership believes in what they say anyway.”
“We have the force of international law on our side, not merely Philippine law. China does not have the force of law on its side. It does not have right on its side. That’s why they are leftists,” he added.
The US midrange missile system, called Typhon, was brought to the country in April as part of the “Balikatan” war games between Filipino and American troops.
The Typhon’s arrival in the country angered Beijing, with China’s Defense Minister Qu Qian saying the United States and the Philippines “brought huge risks of war into the region.”
Teodoro earlier responded to this, saying “It’s none of China’s business. What happens within our territory is for our defense. We follow international law. What’s the fuss?”
Defense and military officials said the Typhon will remain in the Philippines until the government decides otherwise.