January 31, 2025
MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. clapped back at China’s criticisms of the deployment of the United States’ Typhon missile system to the Philippines, stating that he would be willing to have the military hardware pulled out of the country if Chinese aggression in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) stops.
In a media interview in Cebu City Thursday, Marcos addressed China’s objections to the missile system, emphasizing that the Manila had not commented on Beijing’s much larger missile arsenal.
“I don’t understand their comments on the Typhon missile system,” Marcos said.
“We don’t make any comments on their missile systems and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have.”
The President then proposed a deal with China: halt its aggressive actions and territorial claims over the Philippines, and in exchange, the Philippines would consider recalling the missile system.
“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,” Marcos said.
“Tigil nila yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat ‘yan (Stop all their aggressive acts and I’ll return everything),” he added.
The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where China has continued its maritime assertiveness, including incidents of harassment against Filipino fishermen and coast guard personnel in contested waters.
The Philippines has repeatedly raised concerns over China’s military presence and actions in the region, which Manila deems as violations of its sovereignty.
The US deployed the Typhon missile system to the Philippines in April last year as part of the Balikatan military exercises, and has reportedly stayed in the country since.
The move has drawn the ire of China which repeatedly called for its withdrawal.
Filipino soldiers will reportedly train on the US military’s intermediate range missile system during unilateral army drills next month.
Call to remove missile system
It was Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning who made the call for the removal of the Typhon missile system in response to a Reuters report saying that the US had deployed its Typhon missile launchers to a new location in the country.
“We once again call on the Philippines to heed the call from regional countries and their peoples, correct the wrongdoing as soon as possible, quickly pull out the Typhon missile system as publicly pledged, and stop going further down the wrong path,” Mao said in a regular press conference last January 24.
“Let me stress again that by bringing this strategic offensive weapon into this part of the world, the Philippines is essentially creating tensions and antagonism in the region and inciting geopolitical confrontation and an arms race,” she continued.
Mao further said, “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.”
However, last December, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. had already addressed China’s objections, saying the missiles “are not targeted against specific countries.”
“Instead, it is targeted against security risks, threats, and challenges,” he said.
The Typhon missile system arrived in the country from the US in April and was first used during its bilateral war games with the country.
READ: Army to conduct next phase of US missile system training in Feb
The Philippine Army said the ground-based missile system was also used for the bilateral Army drills between Manila and Washington, which were already finished on Sept. 22, 2024.
However, Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the missile system will remain in the Philippines until further notice as the US and the Philippines assess its use in future drills.