PHL unfazed by Taiwan's missile plan in Spratlys

The Department of National Defense (DND) is unfazed by Taiwan’s plan to install advanced defense missiles in the potentially mineral-rich Spratly Islands, of which the Philippines is among the claimant countries. According to DND spokesman Zosimo Paredez, the department does not see any problem in Taiwan’s plan provided that the missiles will be within its territory and will not intrude into the territories of other claimant countries. “That’s their prerogative. Should they want to do that, nobody can stop them. But they should not encroach into other interest so that peace will prevail," said Paredez on Sunday. According to reports, Kuomintang legislator Lin Yu-fang is pushing for the deployment of the advanced missile system, saying that their proposal to do so is a legitimate response to reports of other claimant countries building up their military forces. Paredez said Taiwan’s plan is “quite unsettling because it’s something out of the ordinary." “Nonetheless, they took action and we cannot really stop them from doing that," he added. He noted that the plan “might be seen by other countries as something like an aggressive move, uncalled for." “But we will see how they react. It’s okay with us, but that might be taken by other countries concerned as not really friendly. They may be misunderstood," Paredez said. Paredez proposed that Taiwan initiate a dialogue with the other countries about their plans “if at all they will make good their plans." He said the territorial dispute should be settled “in the proper peaceful venues." - AL/KBK, GMA News