PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday said he is willing to send back to the United States its Typhon missile system if China stops its aggression against Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.
The missile launcher was brought to the Philippines by the US in April last year for the “Salaknib” exercises between the armies of the two countries. It was also later used in the bigger “Balikatan” between the US and Philippine armed forces. The Typhon has since stayed in the country, angering China which has repeatedly called for its withdrawal.
The Philippines is planning to acquire a similar missile system. Philippine soldiers will train next month on the US military’s intermediate range missile system as part of preparations for his year’s Balikatan which will be held in April to May.
The President, in an interview on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Mactan-Cebu-International Airport parallel runway in Cebu City, said he does not really understand China’s “comments” on the missile system. We don’t make any comments on their missile systems, and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have. So, I don’t understand,” Marcos said.
“Let’s make a deal with China: Stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen and let them have a living, stop ramming our boats, stop water cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us, and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior, and I’ll return the typhoon missiles. Itigil nila ‘yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat ‘yan (Stop what they are doing and I have everything returned),” he added.
China is claiming most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea where its coast guard vessels have been bullying a harassing Philippine ships.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has said the Philippines should “correct the wrongdoing as soon as possible” and pull out the Typhon missile launchers.
China renewed its call after Reuters reported that the Typhon missile launchers were deployed to a new location in the country.
“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 last week.
Tomahawk cruise missiles used in the launchers are capable of hitting targets in both China and Russia from the Philippines. The SM-6 missiles it also carries can strike air or sea targets more than 200 km away.
Philippine soldiers will train next month on the US military’s intermediate range missile system during unilateral army drills as part of preparations for the Balikatan exercises.
The Typhon was redeployed to a new location in the Philippines, which officials decline to disclose.
Last month, Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said what the Army is planning to acquire is not necessarily the Typhon brand. It said the Army wants a “platform that will address our requirements to be able to protect our 200 nautical miles EEZ (exclusive economic zone).”
CHINA VESSEL
A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel has pushed a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship further away from the coast of Zambales in the West Philippine Sea, the PCG reported.
In a statement on Wednesday night, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said CCG-3304 is now about 85 to 90 nautical miles away from Zambales.
On Tuesday, the Chinese vessel was approximately 82 to 88 nautical miles from the shoreline of the province.
The PCG has been actively monitoring the illegal presence of the Chinese off Zambales since January 4.
The province is about 120 nautical miles away from Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc. The Chinese gained control of the shoal after a standoff with Philippine government vessels in 2012.
Tarriela said PCG vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua is “actively and resolutely addressing the unlawful presence” of CCG-3304 within the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
“In defiance of the Chinese vessel’s baseless claims of jurisdiction over these waters, the BRP Teresa Magbanua has consistently communicated with CCG-3304, issuing hourly radio challenges to assert that it is operating illegally within Philippine territory,” said Tarriela. – With Reuters
