Wang warned the Philippines about the US missile system

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo about the recent deployment of the US Typhoon medium-range missile system, saying that it will cause tension and confrontation in the region and create an arms race.

Wang stated that the current tensions between the two countries have been fueled by the Philippines, which has “repeatedly violated the consensus of both sides and its commitments, continuously promotes maritime violations and exacerbates public uproar.” 

He said that China’s relations with the Philippines are at a “crossroads” and expressed hope that the Philippines will work with China to get them “back on track as soon as possible.”

Earlier, the Philippine government announced that it had reached an agreement with China that is expected to end the standoff in the hotly contested Shoal area in the South China Sea.

In the past, bilateral relations between Beijing and Manila have been strained, and China believes that the archipelagic nation has repeatedly exceeded its maritime boundaries in areas that are still disputed.

America, which is afraid of the emergence of China as a revisionist player in the international system, has approached the Philippines and has held several joint exercises with Manila in the South China Sea. Beijing had called such measures provocative and demanded to resolve disputes with neighboring countries through dialogue.  

The South China Sea, with annual sea trade of 3 trillion dollars and huge oil and gas resources, is a place for competition among East Asian countries. In the meantime, Beijing, by claiming ownership of a large part of this sea, has faced East Asian countries that seek to cooperate with the United States to confront China.

Translator: Azam Purkand