China has opposed the Philippines' possible plan to purchase a US Mid-Range Capability Missile System, which it said is a provocative and an irresponsible choice.
Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro on Sunday, Nov. 10, was reported by the Financial Times as saying that the Philippines would not compromise its rights to "acquire any such kind of capabilities in the future within our territory."
Teodoro's remarks did not please China.
Lin Jian, spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said that the Philippines will supposedly enable a country outside the region to fuel tensions and antagonism in the region as well as incite geopolitical confrontation and arms race by bringing in such a weapon.
"Such a move is provocative and dangerous, and it is an extremely irresponsible choice to its own people and people of all Southeast Asian countries, to history, and to regional security," Lin said in Beijing on Thursday, Nov. 14.
While China continues its aggression in the West Philippine Sea and in the South China Sea, Lin said "what the region needs is peace and prosperity" and not the missile system or confrontation.
"We once again urge the Philippines to heed the call from regional countries and their peoples, correct its wrongdoings as soon as possible, quickly pull out the Typhon missile system as publicly pledged, and stop going further down the wrong path," he added.