Q：On December 24，Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro issued a statement saying that the deployment of US mid-range missile assets to the Philippines in the context of joint exercises are completely legitimate, legal, and beyond reproach. He also accused the Communist Party of China criticizing the modest capability development of the Philippines while continuously building up their nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capability, sponsoring criminal syndicates and subversive organizations beyond their shores, and being unwilling to uphold human rights in their own country. What is the Chinese Embassy’s comment on this?
A: Philippine Secretary of National Defense baselessly smeared China and maliciously attacked the Communist Party of China. We firmly oppose and strongly condemn such statement which is nothing but unjust accusation filled with ideological bias and based on bloc confrontation and the Cold War mentality.
However, this is not the first time the incumbent Philippine SND made such unprofessional and ludicrous remarks. In addition to habitually attacking and smearing China and its ruling party, he personally impedes and obstructs mil-to-mil contacts and exchanges between China and the Philippines. He even went as far as to state openly that “discussions and consultations are the most useless phrase”in maritime dispute settlement. Such words run counter to President Marcos Jr’s instruction to deescalate maritime tensions through dialogue, and contradict both countries’ relentless diplomatic efforts to manage differences through communication and consultation. We cannot help but wonder why and for whom he has been saying and doing in such an unconstructive way.
China’s position on the U.S. deploying the Mid-Range Capability missile system in the Philippines is consistent and clear. Our part of the world is in need of peace and prosperity, not Mid-Range Capability missile system or confrontation. Once again we remind the Philippines to heed the call of regional countries and their peoples, and have the Typhon missile system promptly pulled out as it has publicly pledged, and stop going further down the wrong path.