Phl stance on Typhoon missiles unchanged

Malacañang yesterday stood by President Marcos' conditions for the removal of the US Typhoon missile launchers after Chinese state-run media echoed the demand for the Philippines to pull out the mid-range missile system for the sake of regional "peace and prosperity."

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In January, Beijing said Manila should "quickly" pull out the missile launchers, calling the deployment a "highly dangerous move and an extremely irresponsible choice."

Marcos responded by saying that he was ready to yield to Beijing's demand if it stops claiming Manila's territory and engaging in aggressive and coercive behavior in the West Philippine Sea.

On Wednesday, People's Daily, the newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, repeated the call for the Philippines to pull out the missile system, saying the region "needs peace and prosperity, not intermediate range missiles and confrontation." The newspaper also claimed that the Philippines had promised that the deployment of the missile launchers was only temporary.

Asked to react to the Chinese paper’s statement, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos’ stance on the issue has not changed.