Security exec to China: Upgrading defense system within PH rights

By Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency

FILE: A much larger vessel of the China Coast Guard (CCG) blocking the path of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on June 30, 2023. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippines has the sovereign and inherent right to upgrade its defense capabilities whenever it deems appropriate

A ranking National Security Council (NSC) official thus called China’s criticism of Philippine efforts to upgrade capabilities “deceptive” as the Philippines has not commented on Chinese missiles inventory.

“We never criticized, we never commented even on their continued improvement of their offensive capabilities. So we feel that it is deceptive on the part of the People’s Republic of China to comment on our right to improve our defense capabilities and position while they continue to improve their offensive capabilities,” NSC Assistant Director Jonathan Malaya said in a press briefing Friday.

The NSC official issued the reaction following Chinese criticisms on the continued presence of the US Medium Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile system in the country.

The system was brought by American forces last year and was used to train Filipino troops during the “Salaknib” and “Balikatan” military exercises.

Filipino soldiers were trained on how the weapon systems work as the Philippines is planning to acquire similar platforms in the future.

China claimed that the continued presence of the weapon would spark an “arms race” in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Malaya said China had conducted routine military training where it deployed or tested some of their missiles, like the DF-17, DF-21 and DF-41.

“And the DF-41 has a range of 15,000 kilometers which can reach beyond the Philippines and into the Pacific Ocean,” he added. “At every specific instance that the PRC (People’s Republic of China) has conducted these tests, they never heard from us.”

Malaya reiterated there is nothing irregular with the deployment of the MRC Typhon missile system in the country.

Neither did the country renege on its commitment to withdraw the Typhon missile system because there was none to begin with.

“The Philippines never promised the PRC that we will withdraw the Typhon missile system from the Philippines. We never made any commitment to the PRC in this regard,” he said.

Malaya said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. offered to withdraw the weapon if China would stop its illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

“But when the PRC was asked about this, there was virtually no response. And you can look at the transcripts coming from the press conferences in Beijing. This question was asked point blank and we had no response whatsoever,” he said.