Beijing on missiles: China not a threat to any country

MANILA, Philippines —  China is neither confirming nor denying a claim by Sen. Imee Marcos that it has hypersonic missiles aimed at 25 targets in the Philippines.

But while it claims that its position is defensive and not a threat to any country, China warns it is ready to act when threatened.

“I’m not sure what the Philippine side’s source was, but I can tell you that China is committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and China does not pose a threat to any country,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Thursday.

“That said, we will certainly not sit by and watch when our legitimate rights and interests and regional peace and stability are being violated or under threat,” she added.

Marcos earlier this week claimed to have information on China’s supposed 25 missile targets in the Philippines. She did not provide details.

She revealed the information some two weeks after the Chinese carried out their most violent effort – so far – to disrupt a supply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

The June 17 Rotation and Resupply (RORE) mission to Ayungin Shoal had to be abandoned after Chinese coast guard (CCG) personnel – brandishing bladed weapons and clubs – boarded Filipino boats and destroyed their navigational and communications equipment. One Filipino soldier lost his thumb when his boat was rammed by a bigger Chinese vessel.

Mao, in her latest statement, again accused the Philippines of provocation, a claim that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) belied, noting that Philippine vessels have every right to be in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and that China is the one intruding in Philippine waters.

“We urge (the) relevant country to listen to the concerns its people have and the call from other countries in the region, bear in mind the fundamental interests of its own people, stay independent, good-neighborliness and friendship, earnestly respect other countries’ security concerns, and act to keep the region peaceful and stable,” the Chinese official said.

On the AFP’s demand for China to pay damages and return the firearms seized from the Filipinos during the June 17 incident, Mao said the Philippine vessels that the CCG blocked “were carrying out an illegal ‘resupply mission’ which violated China’s territorial waters and staging a provocation when stopped by China Coast Guard, who acted lawfully and rightfully to defend China’s sovereignty.”

“The Philippine side should face the consequences of its own action,” Mao said.

“China Coast Guard responded with law enforcement measures that are fully legitimate, justified and lawful. We urge the Philippines to stop the infringement activities and provocations, and return to the right track of properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation,” she said.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, in a statement dated June 10 which the DND posted on X only yesterday, reiterated that the Philippines would not settle for appeasement just to keep peace.

“There is a difference between peace and appeasement. Appeasement will never lead to peace. History has shown that several times. And that is the mistake the Philippines does not want to make,” he said.

“We are not provoking. We do not seek conflict. But we will not back down if what is ours is illegally taken by somebody, especially a bully,” Teodoro declared.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) wants  the United States to remove not only its Typhon missile system, but also its entire stockpile of weapons inside military bases and civilian facilities in the Philippines.

The CPP also called for the withdrawal of all US troops and military advisers from the Philippines. –  Artemio Dumlao