China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned the Philippines over the U.S. intermediate-range missile deployment, saying such a move could fuel regional tensions and spark an arms race.
The United States deployed its Typhon missile system to the Philippines as part of joint military drills earlier this year. It was not fired during the exercises, a Philippine military official later said, without giving details on how long it would stay in the country.
China-Philippine relations are now at a crossroads and dialogue and consultation are the right way, Wang Yi told the Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo during a meeting in Vientiane on Friday, according to a foreign ministry statement.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said relations between the countries were are facing challenges because the Philippines has “repeatedly violated the consensus of both sides and its own commitments”.
“If the Philippines introduces the U.S. intermediate-range missile system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race, which is completely not in line with the interests and wishes of the Filipino people,” Wang said.
China and the Philippines are locked in a confrontation in the disputed South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its claims to shoals in waters that Manila says are well within its exclusive economic zone.
Wang said China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren’ai Jiao in order to maintain the stability of the maritime situation.
China refers to the Second Thomas Shoal as Ren’ai Jiao.
Manila confirmed the development, saying no confrontation took place when a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal took place without any fuss.
Details of the deal are not in the public realm, but clearly both sides saw a need to tone down an escalating naval confrontation which saw the Chinese Coast Guard use water cannons against Philippines supply vessels.
With Reuters inputs
