Taiwan's Spratly missile plan poses no threat: Manila

Manila: The Philippines said it has good relations with Taiwan and it is not afraid of the latter's plan to use missiles in defending its claims in the South China Sea, a senior Philippine official said.

Taiwan has no threat in the Philippines and Taiwan, like China and other claimants in the South China Sea, have good relations with the Philippines despite the overlapping claims on the Spratly Archipelago in the South China Sea, said Zosimo Paredes, spokesman for the Department of Defence.

Rich in resources

"For as long as they don't occupy what we already occupy in the Spratly Archipelago, we have no problems [with Taiwan]," said Paredes, adding, "We cannot dictate to Taiwan about what or what not to do [as far as its claims in the South China Sea are concerned]."

At the same time, it is Taiwan's prerogative to use its missiles in defending its claims in the South China Sea, said Paredes.

In the same way, the Philippines will "defend to the hilt" its claims on the Spratly Archipelago, said Paredes. He did not give details.

China, Taiwan and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea while the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago, believed to have vast deposits of oil and minerals.