Beijing, March 26, 2025 – China issued a stark warning to the Philippines on Tuesday, accusing the U.S. ally of “playing with fire” through its deepening military cooperation with the United States. The statement, delivered by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun during a press conference in Beijing, comes as tensions in the South China Sea continue to escalate, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
The warning follows the Philippines’ decision to host the U.S. Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system, also known as Typhon, on its territory since April 2024. The system, capable of striking targets up to 1,000 miles away, places China’s eastern and southern coasts within its range, a development Beijing has repeatedly condemned as a “highly dangerous move.” Guo emphasized that military cooperation between the Philippines and other nations, including the U.S., “should not target any third party or harm their interests,” warning that such actions risk destabilizing the region.
The Philippines, a long-standing U.S. treaty ally, has ramped up its defense ties with Washington in recent years, particularly under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The deployment of the MRC system, initially part of joint U.S.-Philippine war games, has now been extended indefinitely, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from China. Manila’s ambassador to Washington, Jose Manuel Romualdez, recently stated that the Philippines aims to modernize its military with support from its allies to prepare for potential regional conflicts, a comment that appears to have provoked Beijing’s latest rebuke.
“Inviting a wolf into the house is like playing with fire,” Guo said, using a Chinese idiom to underscore the perceived risks of the Philippines’ actions. He accused the U.S. of using the Philippines as a pawn to “stir up trouble” in the South China Sea, where China claims sovereignty over nearly 90% of the waters, including areas within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. These claims have led to frequent clashes between Chinese and Philippine maritime forces, with Manila accusing Beijing of blockading traditional fishing grounds and using aggressive tactics like water cannons and lasers against Filipino vessels.
The U.S. has reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines under their Mutual Defense Treaty, with President Joe Biden stating last year that an attack on the Philippines, including in the South China Sea, would trigger an “ironclad” response. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit the Philippines from Friday to Saturday, a trip that may include discussions on further MRC deployments, according to military sources. The U.S. Army has touted the MRC’s “deterrent effect,” with Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll noting in a March 13 post on X that the system enhances interoperability with Philippine forces during crises.
China’s warning also comes in the context of broader regional dynamics. The Philippines has strengthened military ties not only with the U.S. but also with Japan and Australia, both of whom are Washington’s allies in the Indo-Pacific. All four nations have conducted joint war games in the contested waters near the Philippines, further stoking Beijing’s concerns about a coordinated effort to counter its influence. “Facts have repeatedly proven that nothing good could come out of opening the door to a predator,” Guo added, signaling China’s frustration with what it sees as external interference in a region it considers its sphere of influence.
The South China Sea remains a critical flashpoint, with the Philippines under Marcos vowing not to cede “even one square inch” of its territory. The ongoing disputes have garnered international support for Manila, with the U.S., its allies, and the G7 issuing statements backing the Philippines’ position. However, Beijing has accused the Southeast Asian nation of being a “mouthpiece” for the U.S. and spreading “Sinophobia,” claims the Philippine embassy in Washington has firmly rejected.
As U.S.-China rivalry intensifies, the Philippines finds itself at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war. Romualdez has warned that a single incident in the South China Sea could escalate into a broader conflict, potentially invoking the Mutual Defense Treaty and drawing the U.S. into direct confrontation with China. With both sides digging in, the region braces for what could be a perilous new chapter in an already volatile standoff.
