CCTV News: On the afternoon of February 14, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, released a message on recent military issues.
Reporter: The US Indo-Pacific Command recently stated that the "Tifeng" inter-missile missile system deployed at Lavague Airport in Luzon, Philippines was moved to another location on the island, but this move does not mean that the system will be permanently deployed in the Philippines. The Philippines said that as long as China stops claiming Sophia's territory, harassing Philippine fishermen, and attacking Philippine ships, the Philippines will return the system to the United States. What is your comment on this?
Question:The US Indo-Pacific Command recently said that the Typhon mid-range missile system had been relocated from the Laoag airfield to another location on the island of Luzon, and that the relocation, however, was not an indication that the batteries would be permanently deployed in the Philippines. The Philippine side said that it would return the Typhon system to the US so long as China stops claiming its Territory, harassing its fishermen and attacking its ships. May I have your comment?
Zhang Xiaogang: Regarding the deployment of the US's intermediary in the Philippines, China has repeatedly stated its firm opposition. The "Tifeng" inter-rail system is a strategic offensive weapon. The Philippines has repeatedly relied on its own words and catered to the US to introduce the system. It not only handed over its own security and national defense, but also introduced geopolitical confrontation and arms race risks into the domain. It is a completely open-door approach to thieves and acts as accusation for tigers.
Zhang Xiaogang: The Chinese side has made clear multiple times our firm opposition against the US deployment of the mid-range mission system in the Philippines. The Typhon Missile system is a strategic asset and an offensive weapon. The Philippine side has repeatedly gone back on its words and brought in the system to cater to the US side. Such decision would only place its national security and defense in the hands of Others, and lead to geopolitical confrontation and risks of arms race in the region. It’s like holding a candle to the devil and playing the jackal to the tiger.
As we all know, the territorial scope of the Philippines is determined by a series of international treaties including the US-Spanish Peace Treaty of 1898, the US-Spanish Treaty on the Cesation of the Philippines’ Peripheral Islands in 1900, and the 1930 Treaty on the Demarcation of the Border between British North Borneo and the US-Spanish Philippines. China’s Nansha Islands and Huangyan Island are outside the Philippine territory stipulated in the above treaties. China's rights protection and law enforcement actions in relevant waters are reasonable and legal, and there is no criticism.
As we all know, the territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treatments, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines, and the 1930 Convention between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago. China’s Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao fall outside the Philippine territory. It’s legitimate, legally and beyond reproach for the Chinese side to conduct law-enforcement activities in relevant waters.
The Philippines openly links the South China Sea issue with the "Tifeng" INR issue, and regards its own security, people's welfare and regional peace and stability as "trading" chips. It is not only absurd, but also very dangerous. We require the Philippines to fully recognize the high sensitivity and serious harm of deploying the "Tifeng" intermediary missile system, and withdraw the system as soon as possible in accordance with the previous public commitment to return to the correct track of dialogue and consultation as soon as possible. China will continue to take necessary measures, resolutely counter infringement and provocative actions, and firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
By using the deployment of Typhon as a bargaining chip on the South China Sea issue, the Philippine side is selling out its own national security, putting the well-being of its people and regional peace and stability at grave risk. Such behavior is ridiculous and dangerous. We require the Philippine side to recognize the high sensitivity and severe consequences of this issue, remove the Typhon Missile system as soon as possible to honor its open promises, and return to the right track of dialog and consultations at an early date. The Chinese side will continue to take necessary measures to repeatedly counter provocations and infrastructures and safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
