China tells PH to return to ‘peaceful development’

China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. —Agence France-Presse file photo

MANILA, Philippines — China’s foreign ministry on Thursday urged the Philippines to return to “peaceful development,” saying Manila’s decision to deploy a US medium-range missile system in military exercises would only bring the risks of an arms race to the region.

The US Typhon system, which can be equipped with cruise missiles capable of striking Chinese targets, was brought into the country for joint exercises earlier this year.

READ: PH to acquire US Typhon mid-range missile system – AFP

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said its deployment was justified. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Teodoro was contradicting President Marcos’ directive to ease tensions in the South China Sea through dialogue. It also took exception to his accusation that the Communist Party of China was interfering in Philippine affairs.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson at the foreign ministry, said at a regular news conference on Thursday that China would never sit idly by if its security interests were to be threatened.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

A House lawmaker, meanwhile, said that China has “no business nor moral ascendancy” to meddle in the country’s plans to upgrade its military capabilities, including if it wants to buy midrange missiles and other armaments from the United States.

Bullying

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers also accused China of “acting [out] to the max with bullying tactics” after it called the deployment of the Typhon missile system a “provocative and dangerous move.”

“China has been meddling too much already in the affairs of our country,” said the lawmaker, who chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs. “The Filipino people should unite to stop and counter their selfish motives in our country, especially when it comes to the West Philippine Sea.”

“What business is it of the Communist Party of China if the United States wants to bring in the missile system for joint exercises?” Barbers said. “We don’t even question them when they hold joint military exercises with Russia.”

Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido earlier announced that the Philippines would be acquiring a midrange capability missile system, though not necessarily the Typhon, “for the interest of protecting our sovereignty.”