China on Thursday, Dec. 26, hit the deployment of the United States’ mid-range capability missile system to the Philippines, claiming that such move is an “offensive” act that supposedly stirs up trouble in the region.

It was not the first time that Beijing called out Manila. It already did so in September when the US deployed the missile system during the Balikatan Exercises between militaries of both sides.

China hit the Philippines again as Defense chief Gibo Teodoro defended anew the continued presence of the missile system in the country.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said Beijing is opposing the missile system because it supposedly can “carry either conventional or nuclear payloads.”

“It is not a defensive weapon, but a strategic and offensive one,” she added.

Mao also claimed that the Philippines worked with the US to bring in the Typhon system, consequently “placing its national security and defense in the hands of others, introducing geopolitical confrontation and arms race into the region and posing substantive threat to regional peace and security.”

Teodoro maintained that any of the Philippine military’s move to defend and protect its sovereignty falls within its own prerogative and is not subject to any foreign veto.

Mao also criticized the Philippines for refusing to send back the missile system, an act it sees as helping a country outside the region to deploy its military forces.

“Who’s been making provocations and stirring up trouble in the South China Sea? Who’s been cooperating with external forces to flex muscle? Who’s broken the international law and yet claims to uphold it? The answer is quite clear to countries in the region,” she said.

“We once again urge the Philippines to bear in mind that the only right way to safeguard national security is to uphold strategic independence, good-neighborliness and friendship, and peaceful development,” she added.

She then warned the Philippines that China will not sit on its hands when its security interests are in danger or under threat.

“The Philippines will be hurting its own interests if it keeps refusing to change course,” she added.