China cast doubt on the Philippines’ independent foreign policy on Thursday, citing the deployment of a United States mid-range missile system within Philippine territory.
Beijing also criticized Manila for depending on others for its national security and defense, as well as allegedly causing geopolitical tensions in the region.
“Let me stress that the Typhon MRC (Mid-Range Capability) missile system can carry either conventional or nuclear payloads. It is not a defensive weapon, but a strategic and offensive one,” said Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
“The Philippines has worked with the US to bring in the Typhon system. It’s placing its national security and defense in the hands of others, introducing geopolitical confrontation and an arms race in the region and posing a substantive threat to regional peace and security,” Mao added.
She continued: “Whose interest does this move serve? How could anyone believe this is an independent foreign policy? What the Philippines is doing benefits no one.”
Mao also criticized the Philippines for what she described as a breach of its earlier commitment to neutrality, citing its earlier promise not to choose sides between the US and China.
“The Philippines once clearly promised that it will not choose sides between major countries, not engage in any activities that will harm China’s interest, and doesn’t intend to incite tensions in the region,” she said.
Stoking confrontation
“Despite these clear promises, however, the Philippines has helped a country outside the region deploy its military forces and stoke confrontation in the region,” Mao added.
She also highlighted Manila’s inconsistencies in its statements regarding the American Typhon missile system, which was first deployed in the country last April for the annual Philippines-US joint military exercises.
According to Mao, the Philippines initially said the system would only be used during the Balikatan and Salaknib military exercises and would be removed by September.
However, she said, the Philippines later reversed its position, expressing a desire to keep the system permanently and eventually planning to acquire it.
Mao labeled the shift as a deliberate violation of the Philippines’ earlier commitments and accused Manila of undermining regional stability.
“Who’s been making provocations and stirring up trouble in the South China Sea? Who’s been cooperating with external forces to flex muscle?” she said.
She continued: “Who’s broken international law and yet claims to uphold it? The answer is quite clear to countries in the region.”
Completely legitimate
In a statement last Tuesday, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said no foreign country can intervene in Manila’s execution of its independent foreign policy.
“The Philippines is a sovereign state, not any country’s ‘doorstep.’ Any deployment and procurement of assets related to the Philippines’ security and defense fall within its own sovereign prerogative and are not subject to any foreign veto,” he said.
Teodoro defended the deployment of the US missile system in the Philippines, saying this action was “completely legitimate, legal and beyond reproach.”
He pointed out the enhancement of Philippine defense capabilities under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) “is undertaken based on the Philippines’ own national interest and in accordance with our independent foreign policy.”
“It is not targeted against specific countries. Instead, it is targeted against security risks, threats, and challenges,” he added.
China, through Mao, urged the Philippines “to bear in mind that the only right way to safeguard national security is to uphold strategic independence, good-neighborliness and friendship, and peaceful development.”
“We once again call on the Philippines to heed the call of regional countries, quickly pull out the missile system as publicly pledged, and stop aggravating its wrongful act,” she said.
Without saying who she was referring to, Mao called for self-reflection and a cessation of what she described as “inverting the truth and pretending to be the victim” for “some individuals in the Philippines.”
To recall, the Chinese Foreign Ministry as well as their embassy in Manila lambasted Teodoro over his “false remarks” about China.
They also accused Manila’s defense chief of “obstructing” exchanges between the Philippines and China, which are engaged in a maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
“This is not the first time the incumbent Philippine SND made such unprofessional and ludicrous remarks. In addition to habitually attacking and smearing China and its ruling party, he personally impedes and obstructs mil-to-mil contacts and exchanges between China and the Philippines,” it said.
“He even went as far as to state openly that ‘discussions and consultations are the most useless phrase’ in maritime dispute settlement,” it added.
Warning
Mao reiterated that China would not remain passive if its security interests were endangered, stressing that the Philippines risked undermining its own interests by continuing on its current path.
“Our message to the Philippines: China will not sit on its hands when its security interests are in danger or under threat,” she said.
“The Philippines will be hurting its own interests if it keeps refusing to change course,” she added.