It's "absurd and extremely dangerous" for the Philippines to worsen the South China Sea issue with the deployment of the Typhon intermediate-range missile system by the United States in the country, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.

US think tank report says Washington can initiate 'virtuous cycle of de-escalatory steps' to reduce risk and help Manila bolster its lawful claims The United States should avoid a frontal military role in countering Beijing's actions in the South China Sea and instead enable the Philippines to take the lead,

"All countries are expected to respect freedom of navigation and overflight in and above international sea lines of communication, such as the South China Sea, and to avoid interference in legitimate activities conducted in international waters and airspace,