MANILA, Philippines- Tinabla ng Pilipinas nitong Huwebes ang bagong panawagan sa pamamagitan ng Chinese state media na ibalik ng bansa ang Typhon missile system sa United States.
Iginiit ng National Security Council (NSC) na ang Pilipinas ay mayroong “sovereign and inherent right to upgrade its defense capabilities” sa mga oportunidad na nakikita nitong akma.
“The Typhon missile system is deployed only for defense purposes and will only be used in this manner. We refute the assertion that the Typhon missile system will endanger the region,” pahayag ni NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya.
“We strictly adhere to the provisions of the Constitution that the Philippines can neither employ the use of nuclear weapons or engage in offensive war,” dagdag niya.
Ilang ulit nang nagbabala ang China laban sa pagpapanatili ng launchers sa bansa, na dinala rito para sa 2024 Balikatan exercises, na maaari umanong maging mitsa ng “geopolitical confrontation and an arms race” sa Indo-Pacific region.
Binatikos naman ng NSC ang China sa pagsita sa Manila gayung ang Beijing “dramatically improving offensive capabilities.”
“It is in the same spirit that we have not commented previously on China’s ever rising missile inventory, which is the actual threat to regional stability,” wika ni Malaya.
Samantala, binigyang-diin ng Armed Forces of the Philippines na walang bansa ang makapagdidikta kung paano palalakasin ng Pilipinas ang depensa nito. RNT/SA
