Philippines refutes China’s arms race claim, says Typhon missile system for self-defence

Philippine Defence Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jnr says China should not interfere with Manila’s plan to boost its ‘credible deterrence’

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Soldiers attaching a component of the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), or Typhon, at a military exercise in Northern Luzon, the Philippines, in June. Photo: US Army

Published: 7:16pm, 26 Sep 2024Updated: 7:39pm, 26 Sep 2024

The Philippines has refuted China’s claims of an arms race between the two nations following reports that the Southeast Asian country will continue to host an advanced US missile system amid the territorial dispute between the two neighbours.

The comments by Philippine Defence Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jnr on the Typhon missile system were echoed by analysts, who say there is a huge imbalance in the defence capabilities of the two countries while the Philippines also lag behind its other neighbours in defence technology.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 5th Asian Defence and Security Exhibition in Pasay City on Wednesday, Teodoro criticised Beijing’s interference in Manila’s internal affairs over the Typhon’s deployment.

“That’s what China is saying but they are the ones that made the first move. For us, we are only defending our country. If they say that there is an arms race, they are the bigger country, they should be an example,” Teodoro told reporters.

“It seems to me that before other countries interfere [with] the creation of our credible defence posture, they should first stop their illegal activities, get out of the West Philippine Sea, take away their ballistic capabilities, destroy their nuclear arsenal before they interfere with us creating credible deterrence,” said Teodoro, who was referring to Manila’s name for a part of the South China Sea that included its exclusive economic zone.

Philippines Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro speaking at a conference in Manila in August. Photo: Reuters

China has expressed its concerns over the Typhon’s deployment in recent months and called for the system’s withdrawal from the Philippines.