Manila [Philippines], September 21: Reuters quoted Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano on September 20 as saying that there is no specific timeline for the withdrawal of the US Typhon medium-range missile system from the country.
"There will be consultations, but right now we need the Typhon missile launchers for training and capacity building of our armed forces," Mr. Ano told reporters.
"No country can dictate to us what to do. We know what is best for our country, so they cannot dictate anything to us, especially regarding the deployment of this missile launcher," Mr. Ano stressed.
According to Reuters, citing Philippine military spokesman Louie Dema-ala on September 18, training activities are still ongoing and the US Army in the Pacific (USARPAC) will decide how long this missile system will stay in the Philippines.
Previously, Reuters reported on September 19 that the US had no plans to immediately withdraw the medium-range missile system deployed in the Philippines. According to Reuters, the US brought the Typhon system to the Philippines to test the feasibility of deploying this system to the region when necessary. Satellite images from Planet Labs showed that the Typhon system was still located in the northern Philippines.
Responding to the above information, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on September 19 that they were very concerned about the plan to maintain this system in the Philippines. "This seriously threatens the security of countries in the region and increases geopolitical confrontation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian emphasized.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper