China: PH needs to understand US intentions in deployment of missiles

After the Philippine Army said that the United States Mid-Range Capability Missile System could be deployed in the country past September, Chinese Foreign Minister Lin Jian said the Philippines needed to understand the US' “real intentions” in deploying the missiles.

“This move by the US and the Philippines incites geopolitical confrontation, escalates tensions in the region, and harms regional peace and stability. It has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region,” he said in a press conference.

The Foreign Minister added that China had  repeatedly  opposed the deployment and the  Philippines needed to avoid being the “cat’s paw” of the US “at the expense  of its own security interest.”

Jian urged the Philippines to pull out the missiles “as publicly pledged.”

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that the presence of US missile systems in the country had no relation to the tension between the Philippines and China.

“The presence of the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system provides an opportunity for joint training and familiarization for such modern weapons systems in a changing security environment,” AFP Public Affairs chief Colonel Xerxes  Trinidad said in a message to GMA News Online.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines prioritizes regional peace and stability and continues to work closely with like-minded nations to address shared security challenges. Our organization remains dedicated to contributing positively while fulfilling its national defense duties,” he added.

The Philippine Army, in July, stated that the Mid-Range Missile System would be pulled out by September at the latest.

However, the statement was retracted days later, with the Army explaining that the system may be deployed past September depending on the output of the Salaknib training exercises between the US and Philippine militaries.

“Actually, wala siyang specific na [date ng] alis.  Ang nasabi ko dati is 'yung Salaknib will be culminated by September.  However every after 'yung Salaknib, magkakaroon ng training evaluation  if the objectives of the exercise have been met. Kapag hindi pa  name-meet 'yung objectives, possible this will still continue na,” said Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala.

(Actually, there is no specific removal date. What I  said before is that Salaknib will culminate by September. However, every time Salaknib ends, there will be an evaluation if the objectives of the exercise have been met. If the objectives are not yet met, this deployment may continue.) — Jiselle  Anne Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News