CHINA IS NO THREAT TO PH, SAYS FOREIGN MINISTRY

MANILA, Philippines — "We do not pose a threat to any country."

This was how the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to a pronouncement by Sen. Imee Marcos in a video on TikTok and Facebook that China had allegedly identified 25 targets around the Philippine archipelago and that it would attack them with hypersonic missiles.

"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," said Mao Ning, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during her regular press briefing on Thursday in Beijing.

She, however, added that China will certainly not sit by and watch when their legitimate rights and interests and regional peace and stability are being violated or under threat. "We are committed to maintaining regional peace and stability, and we will take necessary actions to ensure this commitment is upheld."

"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 people, stay independent, good-neighborliness and friendship, earnestly respect other countries' security concerns, and act to keep the region peaceful and stable," Mao Ning said.

Senator Marcos claimed on social media that she knew of a Chinese plan to target the Philippines with hypersonic missiles. This statement has been refuted by the National Security Council, which said it was unaware of any such security threat.

2024-07-05T03:21:30Z dg43tfdfdgfd