China should disarm before criticising US Typhon deployment: Philippines defence chief
Gilberto Teodoro Jnr challenged China to dismantle its nuclear arsenal before criticising the presence of US missiles in the Philippines
Tomahawk missiles can travel over 1,000 miles (1,600km), which places China within their target range. Officials are considering keeping the missile system in the northern Philippines up to April next year, when US and Philippine forces are scheduled to hold their annual Balikatan – Tagalog for “shoulder to shoulder” – large-scale combat exercises, he said.
The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the sensitive US missile deployment publicly. There was no immediate comment from US officials.
Chinese diplomats have repeatedly conveyed their alarm to the Philippine government, warning that the deployment of the missile system could destabilise the region.
The Philippine army said earlier that the system was scheduled to be removed from the country by the end of this month. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr refused to confirm or deny the extension.
But Teodoro rejected China’s demands as interference in the Philippines internal affairs, speaking to reporters on Tuesday on the sidelines of an Asian defence industry exhibition in Manila.
China is saying that they are alarmed … why don’t they lead by example? Destroy their nuclear arsenal, remove all their ballistic missile capabilities
