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NSC supports Marcos call, hopes China will reciprocate 'sincere gesture'


NSC Marcos China Typhon missile WPS West Philippine Sea

The National Security Council (NSC) is supportive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call for China to stop its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in exchange for the removal of the United States' Typhon missile launchers in the country, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday.

In a statement, Año said that they hope China will match the “sincere gesture” of Marcos “in the spirit of goodwill and amity.”

“The NSC fully supports the President's call to the People's Republic of China to respect Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction and stop aggressive and coercive behavior in the WPS,” Año said.

“…The President has made a sincere gesture to the People's Republic of China which we hope will be reciprocated in the spirit of goodwill and amity among our two great nations,” he added.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the AFP ''stands firmly'' with the President ''in upholding our sovereignty and territorial integrity.''

''From day one, the President has made it unequivocally clear that we will not surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power. The AFP fully embraces this commitment and remains resolute in defending our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea,'' Brawner said in a statement.

''The illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the People's Liberation Army - Navy (PLA-N) in our maritime domain must stop immediately,'' he added. ''These reckless actions threaten regional stability and undermine both the sovereignty of the Philippines and the principles of a rules-based international order.''

On Thursday, Marcos said he will pull out the United States' Typhon missile launchers in the country, as requested by China, if Beijing will stop its aggression in the WPS.

"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.

“Itigil nila ‘yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat ‘yan. [Once they stop what they are doing, I will return everything],” he added.

Año pointed out that the Philippines always pursued peaceful and diplomatic steps in line with its desire to de-escalate rising tensions in the WPS.

“As directed by the President, our actions in the WPS remain compliant with international law and established norms of cooperation and diplomacy. We see this as contributory to peace and stability in the region, which will benefit not only the Philippines but the entire region,” he said.

Regarding the US Typhon missile launchers, Año said that its deployment in the country is “purely meant for defense purposes and is not directed against any nation.”

“It was deployed to the Philippines during the 2024 Balikatan exercises singularly meant to improve readiness and interoperability with troops and equipment from other countries, including the United States,” he said.

“As such, its continued deployment in the country is essential in our efforts to improve our defense capabilities,” he added.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

The Philippines refers to portions of the South China Sea as West Philippine Sea. The West Philippine Sea refers to the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the region. The Philippines' EEZ was upheld by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016 over China's massive historical claims.

China has refused to recognize the decision. — RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News

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