China missile test draws PHL-US alarm

THE PHILIPPINES and the US on Wednesday urged China to exercise restraint after Beijing test-fired a ballistic missile into the South Pacific, saying the launch undermines regional stability.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said maintaining a “calm, secure and stable environment” in the Indo-Pacific region is essential, adding that actions that erode confidence are unhelpful to dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation.

“We underscore the importance of maintaining a calm, secure and stable environment in the Indo-Pacific region,” the DFA said in a WhatsApp statement sent by spokesperson Analyn D. Ratonel. “Actions that erode confidence are unhelpful in advancing dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation.”

The agency said it had received notification of the missile launch on July 5 but nevertheless urged China to avoid actions that could heighten tensions and trigger misunderstandings.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton echoed Manila’s concerns, describing the launch as provocative and saying it reflected Beijing’s expanding military capabilities.

“Beijing’s provocative missile launch (on Monday) is further evidence of its rapid and secretive nuclear weapons development program, which runs counter to regional stability and is inconsistent with the pursuit of meaningful arms control discussions,” he said in a separate statement.

He reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the Philippines under their longstanding security alliance and said the US shares Manila’s concerns over the missile test.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

The statements came a day after the Department of National Defense condemned the launch as “a reckless display of military power” that served no peaceful purpose.

“The launch serves no peaceful purpose and is a calculated act of taunting and provocation against those who reject China’s illegal expansionism and coercive conduct,” Defense spokesman and Assistant Secretary Arsenio R. Andolong said on Tuesday.

Reuters, citing Chinese state media, reported that China launched the missile into international waters at about 12:01 p.m. GMT on July 6 as part of what Beijing described as a routine military exercise.

The missile was not aimed at any adversary but reflected China’s expanding military activities in the Pacific, according to the report. — K.P.B. Gabriel