Marcos to China: Stop West PH Sea provocations, I’ll return US Typhon Missiles

Metro Manila, Philippines - China should stop aggressive behaviors in the West Philippine Sea if it wants the Philippines to return the US Typhon missile deployed in Luzon, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.

The president told reporters in an ambush interview in Cebu City on Thursday, Jan. 30, that he does not want to comment on the missile system because China has bigger and more powerful counterparts.

"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 Typhon missiles,” he said.

“Tigil nila yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat 'yan (Translation: If they stop what they’re doing, I will return all of it),” Marcos said.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said in an interview with NewsWatch Plus that no other country can dictate on what the Philippines can or cannot do when it comes to upgrading its military capacities.

"We should get more of that, more of these Typhon missiles because it is for our defense. Hindi naman offensive, ano, that is not an offensive type of weapon," said Romualdez.

[Translation: "It’s not offensive, you know, that is not an offensive type of weapon."]

"This is really to defend ourselves," he added.

China previously slammed the deployment of the missile system in Luzon, calling it dangerous and a move that would increase tensions in the region.

"The Philippines is essentially creating tensions and antagonism in the region and inciting geopolitical confrontation and an arms race. This is a highly dangerous move and an extremely irresponsible choice for its own people, the people of the other Southeast Asian countries, and regional security," said Chinese Foreign Minister spokesperson Mao Ning.

In response, Romualdez said, "No country has any right to tell us what we can do and what we can use."

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed the repositioning of the missile launcher in Luzon.

"Both the US and Philippine governments coordinate closely on all aspects of the MRC deployment, including its positioning. These arrangements reflect shared operational considerations and mutual consultations between our two nations," the AFP said.

Manila is hoping to procure similar missile systems from Washington.

The Typhon launchers can fire multi-purpose missiles up to thousands of kilometers, such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of hitting targets in both China and Russia from the Philippines. The SM-6 missiles it carries can strike air or sea targets more than 200 km (165 miles) away.

Romualdez said the Pentagon is aware of the Philippines' intent to procure the missile launchers.

"We've already indicated our request to the Pentagon. And so, people in the Pentagon who are going to be in charge of the policies and also even in the actual alliance, the foreign military financing program, they are well aware of what we need," said Romualdez.