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China earlier said the Philippines was ‘going further down the wrong path’ as it plans to acquire a Mid-Range Capability missile system
MANILA, Philippines – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Friday, November 15, dismissed China’s latest warning for Manila to “stop going further down the wrong path,” after he confirmed that the Philippines is planning to acquire capabilities similar to the Typhon Mid-Range Capability missile system.
“We have the force of international law on our side, not purely 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’re leftist,” said Teodoro on the sidelines of the Philippine Navy’s change-of-command ceremony in Manila.
Philippine officials earlier confirmed plans to one day acquire mid-range capability missiles. The United States’ Typhon system, first brought to Manila ahead of the annual Balikatan exercises between the US and the Philippines, has remained in the country since.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had criticized the Philippines’ plan to acquire mid-range capability missile systems, accusing Manila of “enabling a country outside the region to fuel tensions and antagonism in this region, and incite geopolitical confrontation and arms race” by “bringing in this offensive strategic weapon.”
“Such a move is provocative and dangerous, and it is an extremely irresponsible choice to its own people and people of all Southeast Asian countries, to history, and to regional security. What the region needs is peace and prosperity, not the missile system or confrontation. We once again urge the Philippines to heed the call from regional countries and their peoples, correct its wrongdoings as soon as possible, quickly pull out the Typhon missile system as publicly pledged, and stop going further down the wrong path,” said Lin Jian, spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the past, Teodoro responded to China’s bristling against the Typhon system’s extended stay by pointing out that the Asian superpower better “look at their own offensive missile capabilities and remove it, destroy their nuclear weapons” and leave the West Philippine Sea before they point fingers at the Philippines and its treaty-ally the United States.
This time, Teodoro pointed out that Beijing is not even worth the “airtime.” “I think the whole world knows who is on the right path and the wrong path. Definitely, you know, we cannot take advice from people who distort the truth and nobody believes them anyway. So, I think it’s a waste of air time to broadcast the claims of China because only their leadership believes in what they say anyway,” he told reporters.
Teodoro is set to meet with his American counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, when the latter visits Manila this month of November as part of a sojourn around the Indo-Pacific. – Rappler.com
