China has strongly criticized recent comments made by Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, describing them as “baseless accusations” and accusing him of “maliciously attacking” the ruling Communist Party.
Teodoro, in statements reported by Philippine media on Tuesday, asserted that the Philippines has the sovereign right to permit the deployment of U.S. missile systems within its territory despite Beijing’s persistent objections.
In response, the Chinese embassy in Manila issued a statement on Wednesday, condemning Teodoro’s remarks as being “filled with ideological bias, factional confrontation, and a Cold War mentality.” The embassy also urged the Philippine government to reconsider and withdraw the planned deployment of the U.S. mid-range Typhon missile system.
Teodoro’s comments reportedly reacted to earlier criticisms from a Chinese government spokesperson regarding the missile system’s deployment. This latest exchange underscores the escalating tensions between the Philippines and China over regional security and the increasing U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
