No foreign nation or entity has the authority to dictate how the country strengthens its defenses, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Wednesday, responding to the latest pressure from China to withdraw the Typhon missile system.
“We continue to uphold our stand on that, that no particular entity or foreign nation can dictate how we will be fortifying our defenses,” AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in an interview with reporters.
Padilla was reacting to the latest Chinese comment, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the US-made Medium Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile system, claiming that the Philippines broke its promise that the weapon platform will not stay in the country.
The AFP official also emphasized that all military exercises conducted with the Philippines’ military allies and partners are integral to strengthening the country’s defenses. She added that it is the mandate of the Philippine military to strengthen its capabilities to protect national security.
“The AFP is committed to ensuring a secure and resilient Philippines in the face of modern challenges,” Padilla said.
The MRC Typhon, brought in by American forces last year, was used to train Filipino troops during the 2024 “Salaknib” and “Balikatan” exercises. This provided them with firsthand experience on how such weapon systems operate, as the Philippines plans to acquire similar platforms in the future.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through its publication People’s Daily accused the Philippines of fueling confrontation by introducing the missile system, alleging that Manila was using the “welfare of the people” as a pretext for its actions.
“The Philippines’ so-called narrative of ‘the deployment of the Typhon mid-range missile system is legitimate and legal’ is completely self-deception,” it claimed in a recently published article.
“The region needs peace and prosperity, not mid-range missiles and confrontation. The Philippines should abide by the DOC, fulfill its commitment to withdraw the Typhon mid-range missile system, and not make mistakes again on this issue,” China claimed.
Earlier, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. challenged China to cease its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, stating he would be willing to withdraw the Typhon missile system, if Beijing complied.
“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,” he said in late January.