(UPDATE) CHINA has said that it does “not pose a threat” to the Philippines as it refuted claims by Sen. Imee Marcos that Chinese missiles were aimed at targets in the country.
Marcos had posted a video on TikTok and Facebook in which she said that China had identified 25 targets that it would attack with hypersonic missiles.
In a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday, Mao Ning, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “I’m not sure what the Philippine side’s source was, but I can tell you that China is committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and China does not pose a threat to any country.”
Mao, however, added that China would not sit idly by and watch when its rights and interests and regional peace and stability were being violated or threatened.
“We urge the relevant country to listen to the concerns its people have and the call from other countries in the region, bear in mind the fundamental interests of its people, stay independent, good-neighborliness and friendship, earnestly respect other countries’ security concerns, and act to keep the region peaceful and stable,” Mao said.
Senator Marcos, a sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had said among the targets were the Batanes islands, which are close to Taiwan.
Beijing considers Taiwan a rogue province and has vowed to reclaim the self-ruled island.
Marcos did not elaborate on her claim, which she made to bolster her argument that her brother’s decision to further solidify its alliance with the United States had made China see the Philippines as a threat.
“Let’s admit the problem: That China thinks we have sided with their enemy,” she said in the video, which has garnered over 900,000 views on TikTok and more than 100,000 on Facebook.
Marcos has not always embraced her brother’s policies regarding China, including his decision to grant the US expanded access to the Philippine military facilities it can use, including those facing Taiwan and the South China Sea.
During the briefing in Beijing, Mao was also asked to comment on the Philippines’ demand that China pay P60 million in damages incurred during the attempt of the China Coast Guard to block a Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on June 17.
Mao replied: “The Philippine vessels were carrying out an illegal ‘resupply mission’ that violated China’s territorial waters and staged a provocation when stopped by the China Coast Guard, who acted lawfully and rightfully to defend China’s sovereignty.”
The Philippine side “should face the consequences of its actions,” she added.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner had written the Department of National Defense (DND) stating the demand to return items, including firearms, forcibly taken by the Chinese coast guard from Filipinos carrying out the resupply mission.
Brawner said two Philippine-owned rubber boats were also damaged during the incident.
“When we estimated the cost of the damage, it was P60 million. So, we demand China pay P60 million for the damage they caused,” said Brawner.
In addition to the demand to return the firearms and compensation for the damage, the AFP is also considering charging the Chinese government for the medical expenses of the Filipino soldier who lost a finger during the incident, he said.
Be the first to comment