The Philippine officials rejected China's claim that hosting the United States (US) made missile systems in the country constitutes a provocation.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine military spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), believes China's objections to deploying U.S. assets are part of its ongoing false narratives.

When asked whether President Ferdinand Marcos had given the military a direct foreign policy mandate to counter China's false narratives, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad clarified that the military's actions are based on strategies approved by the Department of National Defense.

He explained that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the Navy, operate under the "comprehensive archipelagic defense concept."

He added that this strategy reflects the President’s guidance that not a single square inch of Philippine territory should be compromised. It also signifies a shift in the AFP's focus from internal security to external defense.

Trinidad continued. "Our actions are grounded on the guidance given by the Secretary of National Defense for the AFP. This will include, but are not limited to, countering false narratives being perpetuated by the Chinese Communist Party."

Earlier, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla affirmed the Philippine military's openness to the United States' intention to deploy additional military assets in the country.

She emphasized that the proposal offers key advantages, including improved joint training and enhanced defense capabilities.

China has repeatedly called for the US-made midrange capability (MRC) missile system, also known as Typhon weapon batteries, to be removed from the Philippines.

Padilla emphasized that the deployment of the Typhon system should not be viewed as a threat, but rather as a form of responsible deterrence, carried out in partnership with “like-minded” nations dedicated to upholding regional peace and stability.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has again pushed back at Beijing's claim that the deployment of US missile systems in the Philippines amounts to a provocation.

Teodoro downplayed China's "unnecessary" concerns about the deployment of U.S. military assets in the country.

"It's none of China's business; it's for Philippine defense," Gilberto Teodoro said in his recent interview with the 60 Minutes show when asked to react to China's opposition.

China asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, citing historical rights—a stance that conflicts with the territorial claims of the Philippines and other neighboring countries, including Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

These countries have overlapping claims to islands, reefs, and maritime zones in the South China Sea, fueling ongoing territorial disputes and regional tensions.