The Philippines’ top diplomat has suggested that China may be overreacting to the presence of the United States’ Typhon missile system in Philippine territory, defending the move as necessary for the country’s defense.

In an interview on Friday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo addressed China’s ongoing calls for the removal of the intermediate-range missile system.

“[I]n principle they’re really there for our defense, and therefore I really can’t understand the continuous concern being expressed by China on their use when you consider that China has certainly many more missiles than the Philippines. I don’t know where they aimed at,” he said.

“So I think there might be a bit of an overreaction to the Typhon missiles, which are clearly for defensive purposes, and the Philippines has absolutely no intention of directing them at any certain country unless we are attacked, but that’s why they’re for defense,” he added. 

China, through state media, reiterated its demand on Wednesday for the withdrawal of the missile system from the South China Sea, stressing that the “region needs peace and prosperity, not intermediate-range missiles and confrontation.”

Manalo pointed out that it is the Philippine government’s prerogative whether to keep the missiles as this does not violate any international laws. 

“It’s our prerogative because do we question what they do? It’s for national defense, for security in general. Every country has a right to defend itself as long as it doesn’t use it for aggressive you know purposes,” he said.