China has promised to retaliate after the deployment of a U.S. missile launcher in the Philippines, which Beijing sees as a direct threat to its security. The medium-range missile launcher, stationed in the Philippines since April 2024,

The weapon drew sharp criticism from China when first deployed in April 2024 during a training exercise. The Philippines was not "only giving up its own security and national defence to others, but also introducing the risks of geopolitical confrontation and arms race into the region,