MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is willing to return the Typhon missile system to the United States (US) if China ceases its aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a media interview in Cebu City, Marcos stated, “Let’s make a deal with China—stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen and let them make a living, stop ramming our boats, stop water-cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us, and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior, and I’ll return the Typhon missile.”

“Tigil nila yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat yan,” Marcos added.

He also questioned China’s reaction to the missile system, saying, “I don’t understand their comments on the Typhon missile.” He pointed out that “we don’t make comments on their missile system, and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have.”

The Typhon missile system, deployed by the US, was part of the Balikatan exercise between the Philippines and the US in April 2024. Since then, it has remained in the country. Filipino soldiers are set to train on the US military’s intermediate-range missile system during unilateral army drills in February this year.

However, the decision to keep the Typhon missile launchers in the Philippines has drawn China’s ire. Beijing has repeatedly called for their withdrawal, warning that acquiring the missile system could trigger an arms race in the region.

The Philippine government had previously expressed strong interest in acquiring a mid-range missile system with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, which is considered crucial for the country’s coastal defense against foreign threats.

📷 Presidential Communications Office