No categorical statement from China if it accepts or rejects Marcos' Typhon deal

China gave no categorical commitment on whether it will accept or reject President Marcos’ deal of removing the United States’ Typhon missile system from the country if Beijing will stop its coercive actions in the contested South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun (Photo courtesy of Embassy of China in the Philippines)

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun instead expressed China’s “firm opposition” once more on the presence of the missiles in the Philippines.
 

“As is widely known, Typhon MRC missile system is a strategic offensive weapon, which puts a large number of Southeast Asian countries within its range,” he said.
 

“The U.S. deployment of the system in the Philippines severely damages peace and stability in the region, and harms the legitimate security interests of other countries,” he added.
 

Last month, President Marcos offered China a deal: he would return the Typhon missile to the US if China will stop claiming Philippine territory and harassing its vessels in the South China Sea.
 

This was after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning again called on the Philippines to pull out the Typhon missile launchers.
 

But in December 2024, Beijing was again angered by the Philippines’ announcement that it has plans to acquire the mid-range missile system, which was deployed by the US in April 2024 for annual joint military exercises.
 

The Philippines, Guo claimed, “has gone back on its words again and again” since it pledged earlier that the deployment was “temporary.”
 

“However, it has breached such commitments, claiming they would acquire its own midrange system and field these deterrent capabilities, and linking the South China Sea issue with the Typhon system. This is not only ridiculous but also extremely dangerous,” he stated.
 

The official stressed that it stands ready to defend itself against security threats.
 

“China will not sit idly by when its security interests are harmed or threatened. Countries in the region will by no means accept this move that goes against the trend of the times,” Guo said.
 

He also urged the Philippines “to change its course, and make a strategic choice that truly serves the fundamental interest of itself and its people, rather than staying on the wrong path and hurting the Philippines itself when it comes to issues like Typhon.”
 

From its location in the Philippines, the Typhon system can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles and hit as far as China and Russia.
 

‘Political manipulation’
 

Meanwhile, the official criticized Marcos for using the South China Sea issue for “political manipulation” after it was mentioned during the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas proclamation rally on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
 

In his speech, the Chief Executive urged voters to support the administration’s senatorial ticket in the May 2025 midterm elections as none of them supports China and its harassment of Filipino fishermen in the contested waters.
 

“Let me respond by adapting his sentence: none of the Chinese people would refrain from a lawful and legitimate response, doing nothing when China is hit by infringement and provocation from the Philippines,” Guo said.
 

“China opposes exploiting the South China Sea issue for political manipulation,” he added.
 

China and the Philippines have exchanged heated words for years as Beijing continues its aggressive claims of nearly every feature in the South China Sea.