Zubiri backs keeping US Typhon missile in PH

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday said he is in favor of keeping the United States' Typhon mid-range missile system in the country as a deterrent against China's provocative actions in the West Philippine Sea.

This, as Zubiri maintained that the Typhon is a “defensive weapon system.”

“As long as they do not stop the provocative nature, provocative actions that they are doing in the West Philippine Sea, I am in favor of retaining defensive missile systems in the Philippines as a deterrent for any future provocative action,” Zubiri said at the Kapihan sa Senado.

The US army flew the Typhon, which can launch missiles including SM-6 missiles and Tomahawks with a range exceeding 1,600 km, to the Philippines in April.

Following this, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed concern over the missile system. China also accused the US of provoking an arms race in the South China Sea.

Zubiri, however, argued that it is China who is provoking the Philippines.

“Araw-araw pino-provoke tayo. Sila ‘yung nag pro-provoke,” he said.

(They are provoking us every day. They are the ones doing the provoking.)

Zubiri noted that some Chinese vessels are nearing the mainland Philippines, which he said could lead to a "tense situation."

Earlier, the Philippine Navy said the number of Chinese ships in the WPS reached another record-high for this year at 251.

“That could have led to a very dangerous situation and tense situations sa West Philippine Sea. Habang ganon ka-provocative ang China, then we welcome all the support,” he said.

Aside from this, Zubiri also pushed for the installation of an "iron dome."

“Defensive, protective, dome type systems like the iron dome, please, please install them here. Please let’s start investing into that,” he said.

Reuters has reported that the US has no immediate plans to withdraw the missile system deployed in the Philippines, despite Chinese demands, and is testing the feasibility of its use in a regional conflict.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China does not recognize the decision.

Earlier this month, the Philippines filed another note verbale against China over the recent ramming incident in the West Philippine Sea.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News