Marcos to China: Stop aggressive acts, I’ll return US missile system

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

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. (PCO file photo)

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.