Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared thathis country will never allow the US to deploy missile systems on its territory.
Speaking before a gatheringof Philippine-Chinese business leaders on August 6, he affirmed that althoughthere exists the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US, hewill bar the entry of foreign weapons, including nuclear arsenal in thecountry, as it is considered a violation of its Constitution.
He added that he willnot allow any foreign troops in his country.
On August 2, the USformally withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty withRussia, which was signed by the former Soviet Union and the US back in 1987.After that, it is seeking deployment of its mid-range missiles in theAsia-Pacific region.
On August 3, USDefense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters that he wants to deploy anintermediate-range conventional missile system in the Asia-Pacific regionwithin months.-VNA
VNA