China tells Philippines, US region needs peace, not missiles

ANKARA

China urged the US on Wednesday to withdraw an intermediate-range missile system from the Philippines "as soon as possible," because the region needs "peace and prosperity,” not missiles and confrontation.

"The Philippines' allowing the US to deploy intermediate-range missiles is a perverse act of cooperating with extra-regional forces to fuel regional tensions and confrontations, provoke geopolitical confrontation and an arms race," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Joan said in response to questions regarding the 2+2 dialogue between the US and the Philippines on Tuesday in Manila.

Philippines Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said at a news conference after the talks between the foreign and defense ministers that the US deployment of intermediate-range missiles is to enhance Manila's defense capabilities, not for an offensive purpose, and it would not lead to an arms race.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a change in US leadership following the presidential election in November, will not affect Washington's relationship with Manila, its longtime ally in Asia.

Beijing urged "relevant countries to heed the voices of countries in the region, correct their wrong practices as soon as possible, withdraw the intermediate-range missile system as soon as possible in accordance with their previous public commitments, and not go further down the wrong path."

Commenting on a $500 million US military aid package for the Philippines announced Tuesday by Blinken, Lin said Manila wooing countries outside the region to "provoke confrontation in the South China Sea will only undermine regional stability and aggravate tensions."

"The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to intervene in the maritime issues between China and the Philippines," he said, and trying to introduce "external forces" to safeguard Manila's security will only lead to "greater insecurity and even become a pawn of others."

"Any act of provoking group politics and military confrontation is unpopular and is doomed to go nowhere," he added.