Marcos offers deal to China: 'Stop claming our territory, I'll send back the Typhon missiles'


At a glance

  • According to Marcos, it was unclear to him why Beijing kept on commenting on Manila's missile system.


President Marcos told the Chinese government that he would only send back the United States Typhon missile system if they stopped harassing Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot)
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot)

Marcos said this amid China's urging of the Philippine government to pull out the said missile launchers after they were reportedly moved to another area in Luzon.

In an interview with reporters in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, Jan. 30, the President laid down his conditions before he agreed to send back the US' Typhon missile system.

"You know, 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.

"Tigil nila yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat 'yan (Stop all their antics and I'll send all the missiles back)," he added.

According to Marcos, it was unclear to him why Beijing kept on commenting on Manila's missile system.

"I don't understand their comments on the Typhon missile system-- we don't make any comments on their missile systems and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have. So I don't understand," he said.

The land-based Typhon missile launcher, developed by US firm Lockheed Martin, reportedly has a range of 480 kilometers, though a longer-range version is in development.

Last week, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning renewed China's appeal to the Philippine government to pull out the missile launcher, saying the country must stop "going further the wrong path."

She reiterated China's stand that the Philippines is "creating tensions and antagonism" in the region in the US deployment of the Mid-Range Capability missile system in the Philippines.

"Let me stress again that by bringing this strategic offensive weapon into this part of the world, the Philippines is essentially creating tensions and antagonism in the region and inciting geopolitical confrontation and an arms race," Mao said.

"This is a highly dangerous move and an extremely irresponsible choice for its own people, the people of the other Southeast Asian countries, and regional security," Mao added.

In December last year, the Philippine Army disclosed its plan to acquire the US Typhon missile system to improve its defense capabilities. While China slammed the Philippines' plan, the latter stood by its decision to acquire the said missile system as it is a "step toward strengthening our deterrence capabilities and ensuring that we are prepared to defend our territory when required."

National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año then said that "as a sovereign nation, the Philippines has the right to determine the most appropriate measures to safeguard its security and the well-being of its people."

This week, the Philippine Army disclosed it would use the said missile system in the upcoming Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) Katihan in February.