Beijing on missiles: China not a threat to any country

MANILA, Philippines —  China is neither confirming nor denying a claim by Sen. Imee Marcos that it has hypersonic missiles aimed at 25 targets in the Philippines.

But while it claims that its position is defensive and not a threat to any country, China warns it is ready to act when threatened.

“I’m not sure what the Philippine side’s source was, but I can tell you that China is committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and China does not pose a threat to any country,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Thursday.

“That said, we will certainly not sit by and watch when our legitimate rights and interests and regional peace and stability are being violated or under threat,” she added.

Marcos earlier this week claimed to have information on China’s supposed 25 missile targets in the Philippines. She did not provide details.

She revealed the information some two weeks after the Chinese carried out their most violent effort – so far – to disrupt a supply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

The June 17 Rotation and Resupply (RORE) mission to Ayungin Shoal had to be abandoned after Chinese coast guard (CCG) personnel – brandishing bladed weapons and clubs – boarded Filipino boats and destroyed their navigational and communications equipment. One Filipino soldier lost his thumb when his boat was rammed by a bigger Chinese vessel.

Mao, in her latest statement, again accused the Philippines of provocation, a claim that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) belied, noting that Philippine vessels have every right to be in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and that China is the one intruding in Philippine waters.

“We urge (the) relevant country to listen to the concerns its people have and the call from other countries in the region, bear in mind the fundamental interests of its own people, stay independent, good-neighborliness and friendship, earnestly respect other countries’ security concerns, and act to keep the region peaceful and stable,” the Chinese official said.

On the AFP’s demand for China to pay damages and return the firearms seized from the