Manila and Washington, longstanding treaty allies, have deepened their defence cooperation since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos took workplace in 2022 and commenced pushing again on Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea.
On Monday, China swiftly condemned the choice to accumulate the system as a “provocative and harmful transfer” and warned it risked triggering an “arms race”.
“It’s a particularly irresponsible alternative for the historical past of its personal folks and the folks of Southeast Asia, in addition to for regional safety,” international ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning mentioned Monday.
“The area wants peace and prosperity, not missiles and confrontation,” she added, urging Manila to “right its fallacious practices as quickly as potential”.
As a rule, it takes not less than two or extra years for the Philippine army to accumulate a brand new weapons system from the starting stage, Galido mentioned on Monday, including it was not but budgeted for 2025.
It took 5 years for Manila to take supply of the BrahMos cruise missile final yr, he added.