27-7-2024 (MANILA) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a forceful caution to his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, regarding the potential deployment of American intermediate-range missiles in the Philippines. The meeting, which took place on the fringes of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Vientiane, Laos, marked the first publicly acknowledged face-to-face dialogue between the two ministers since 2022.
Wang’s admonition was unequivocal: “The introduction of US intermediate missile systems by the Philippines would engender regional tension and confrontation, potentially sparking an arms race. This course of action stands in stark opposition to the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people,” as reported by China’s state news agency Xinhua.
The Chinese Foreign Minister did not mince words when addressing the current state of Sino-Philippine relations, describing them as facing “serious difficulties and challenges”. He attributed these strains to what he characterised as repeated violations of bilateral consensus and commitments by the Philippine side, coupled with persistent infringement of maritime rights.
Wang’s stark assessment of the fragility of diplomatic ties was encapsulated in his observation: “The trajectory of China-Philippines relations in recent years has repeatedly demonstrated that while cultivating good relations is an arduous task, their destruction can occur with alarming ease.”
The diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Manila have been exacerbated by overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea and military stand-offs in disputed waters, particularly around the Second Thomas Shoal – known as Renai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines.
China’s concerns about growing US military presence in the Philippines have been particularly focused on the Typhon midrange missile system, deployed to the northern Philippines since April. Despite its scheduled return to the US in September, as announced by the Philippine military, the system’s operational range – covering most of the South China Sea, Taiwan, and China’s eastern and southern coastal cities – has raised alarm in Beijing.
The meeting between Wang and Manalo occurred against a backdrop of intensifying military activity. China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Shandong, and its CCG 5901 patrol ship, the world’s largest coastguard vessel, were recently detected near Philippine waters.
Despite these tensions, diplomatic channels remain open. Last week, the Philippines announced an agreement with China on resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal, though disagreements persist over the specifics of the arrangement.
