Manila and Washington, longtime allies, have deepened their protection cooperation since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos took workplace in 2022 and started pushing again towards Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea.
China rapidly condemned the choice to accumulate the system on Monday as a “provocative and harmful transfer” and warned that it risked sparking an “arms race.”
“It is a particularly irresponsible alternative for the historical past of his personal folks and the folks of Southeast Asia, in addition to for regional safety,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning mentioned on Monday.
“The area wants peace and prosperity, not missiles and confrontation,” he added, urging Manila to “right its incorrect practices as quickly as potential.”
Typically, it takes no less than two or extra years for the Philippine army to accumulate a brand new weapons system from the planning part, Galido mentioned Monday, including that the 2025 price range has not but been budgeted.
It took 5 years for Manila to take supply of the BrahMos cruise missile final yr, he added.
