China warns Philippines not to introduce weapons in Asia-Pacific

China's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday warned the Philippines that "inviting the wolf into your own house" would inevitably backfire, emphasizing that the Asia-Pacific is a highland for peace and development, not a grappling arena for major power rivalry.

The ministry's spokesman Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang made the remarks at a regular news conference in Beijing in response to recent claims by the Philippines that the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or Nmesis, which is an anti-ship missile launcher, remained on its territory after the joint Philippine-United States exercises.

The Philippines side claimed this serves as a deterrent to anyone attempting to coerce or invade the country. Additionally, the US is reportedly planning to deploy another Typhon intermediate-range missile system in the Southeast Asian country.

Zhang stressed that the Philippines is escalating its actions by introducing strategic and tactical weapons, "tying itself to the US war chariot and acting as an accomplice to a tiger".

This move by the Philippines side has undermined regional security and stability, which seriously violated the common interests of people in regional countries, he said.

The spokesman warned that "inviting the wolf into your own house would inevitably backfire and lead to the destruction of your own home".

"We urge the Philippine side to learn from historical lessons and avoid repeating past mistakes," he noted.