Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has offered to return US Typhon missiles if China halts its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, including harassment of Filipino fishermen and territorial claims.

Analysts say it the proposal was likely rhetorical rather than genuine, with little chance Beijing would ever take up such a deal.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday his government will remove a US missile system from the Philippines if Beijing ends its "aggressive and coercive behavior" in the contested South China Sea and ceases claiming Filipino territory.

MANILA (Reuters) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Thursday he would meet U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss issues including immigration, in an effort to influence policy he said could impact a large number of Filipinos in the United States.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters on Thursday ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump that he would return missiles to the US if China ceased what he called aggressive and coercive behavior in the South China Sea.

President Bongbong Marcos claps back at China's criticisms of the deployment of the United States' Typhon missile system to the Philippines, stating that he would be willing to have the military hardware pulled out of the country if Chinese aggression in the West Philippines Sea stops.