BEIJING, Nov 14 (KUNA) -- China renewed on Thursday calls for the Philippines to withdraw the US-made Typhon Mid-Range Capability missile system as agreed upon by countries in the region.
Speaking to the press, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian answered a question on the matter, saying, "On the US deployment of Mid-Range Capability missile system in the Philippines, China has made clear our opposition more than once." "Let me stress again that the Philippines, by bringing in this offensive strategic weapon, is enabling a country outside the region to fuel tensions and antagonism in this region, and incite geopolitical confrontation and arms race." He added, "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," added Jian.
"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." The US military deployed the missile system to the Philippines back on April 22 as part of a joint military exercise with the Philippines that saw the participation of 16,700 soldiers.
This is the first time the Typhon system was deployed in the Asia and Pacific regions since the cold war.
It also came after Washington withdrew in 2019 from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which was signed with the Soviet Union in the 1980s, preventing both global powers then from developing and having possession ballistic weapons with a 500 to 5,500 kilometers range. (end) slq.gta