President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told China on Thursday, January 30, that he will return the Typhon missile system to the United States if China stops its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
Marcos made the remarks in a chance interview with reporters in Cebu after China consistently told the Philippines to remove the equipment as it opposed the U.S. missile system deployment for exercises in the country.
“I don’t understand their comments on the Typhon 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,” 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 behaviour and I’ll return the Typhon missiles,” Marcos added.
The Typhon missile system, deployed by U.S. forces in April 2024 during joint military exercises, has been a point of contention between the Philippines and China. China has consistently opposed the deployment, urging the Philippines to remove the system.
Last week, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated China’s request for the Philippine government to remove the missile launcher, urging the country to avoid continuing down the “wrong path.”
She emphasized China’s position that the Philippines is “fueling tensions and hostility” in the region with the U.S. deployment of the Mid-Range Capability missile system.
In December of last year, the Philippine Army revealed its intention to acquire the U.S. Typhon missile system to enhance its defense capabilities. While China criticized the Philippines’ decision, the Philippines remained firm in its stance, stating that acquiring the missile system was a “step toward strengthening our deterrence capabilities and ensuring we are prepared to defend our territory when necessary.” (TCSP)
