No foreign nation would be allowed to install nuclear weapons in the country to help ensure the nation’s safety, President Duterte declared Thursday.
During his visit to Bataan, the President said he would never allow the deployment of nuclear arms amid concerns that any outbreak of war would spell the “end of the world.”
“I will never, never, never allow any foreign power. Not even…Maski sino. America, Britain. I will not allow the deployment of nuclear arms here,” he said.
“Talagang pupuntahan ko sila doon kung saan nilagay. Ipapatanggal ko talaga. That I can assure you,” said Duterte, who previously stated that the entry of nuclear weapons is prohibited under the Constitution.
Duterte said while he has forged closer ties with Russia and China, considered rival powers of the United States, he did not offer any military alliances with them. He was concerned that the country might be caught in the middle of the conflict if these superpowers would go to war and launch missiles.
“Do not worry – I never talked about military alliances because I’m always telling them that if we go to war at the present parity of arms, nuclear, you start a war and it becomes a worldwide phenomenon, it will be the end of the world. Nobody will grow in our land,” he said.
“We will be targets because the Americans are here,” Duterte said.
Last month, United States Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he was in favor of deploying intermediate-range missiles in Asia supposedly to counter the rise of China in the region. After the US withdrew from a landmark arms treaty, Esper wanted to deploy such capability “sooner rather than later” but did not specify where the US will deploy these weapons.
The President explained the country’s close ties with Russia and China, saying he turned to these superpowers for military aid when the country faced security threats. He was referring to the deadly terror siege in Marawi City by Islamic State-inspired lawless elements in 2017 that forced him to place Mindanao under martial law. (Genalyn Kabiling)
