Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro defended on Tuesday, Dec. 24, the decision of the Philippine government to acquire mid-range missile assets as part of the territorial defense plan for the country.
In a statement, Teodoro also emphasized that any deployment of U.S. mid-range missile assets to the Philippines is legitimate, legal and beyond reproach if it is in the context of joint exercises.
“The Philippines is a sovereign state, not any country’s ‘doorstep.’ Any deployment and procurement of assets related to the Philippines’ security and defense fall within its own sovereign prerogative and are not subject to any foreign veto,” said Teodoro.
Teodoro’ statement was in response to China’s criticisms on both the recent deployment of the mid-range missiles and the planned acquisition as revealed by the Philippine Army.
In April, The US military deployed its Typhon midrange missile system in the northern part of the country as part of the annual war games between Filipino and American troops.
China called the Philippines’ action and plan as a provocative move that stoked regional tension.
But Teodoro explained that the enhancement of Philippine defense capabilities in accordance with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) is undertaken on the basis of the Philippines’ own national interest and in accordance with our independent foreign policy.
“It is not targeted against specific countries. Instead, it is targeted against security risks, threats, and challenges,” said Teodoro.
Look who’s talking
In defending the country’s decision to allow the deployment and the planned acquisition of mid-range missiles, Teodoro said China has been busy also in building up their defense capability.
And China’s capability enhancement, he said, even includes nuclear weapons.
“While the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) is criticizing the modest capability development of the Philippines, they are continuously building up their nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capability, sponsoring criminal syndicates and subversive organizations beyond their shores, and are unwilling to uphold human rights in their own country,” said Teodoro.
Ball is in your hands
Teodoro said that if China is indeed concerned of the tension in the West Philippine Sea area, it could start by stopping the harassment on Philippine vessels, especially within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
The Philippine government repeatedly accused China of provocative and dangerous actions in the West Philippine Sea, including the use of water cannons and deliberate ramming of Philippine civilian and Coast Guard ships.
The Philippine government has repeatedly said that China has no business in encroaching in the West Philippine Sea since the basis of its claim in almost the entire South China Sea was already rejected by the United Nations Tribunal.
“If the Chinese Communist Party is truly intent on reducing tensions and instability in the region, they should cease their saber rattling, stop their provocative actions, halt their interference in other countries' internal affairs, withdraw their illegal presence from the Philippines' EEZ, and adhere to International Law,” said Teodoro.