Courtesy: Capt. Ryan DeBooy/ U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office

The National Security Council (NSC) dismissed Wednesday the call of Chinese state media to remove the United States’ Typhon intermediate range missile.

“The Typhon missile system is deployed only for defense purposes and will only be used in this manner. We refute the assertion that the Typhon missile system will endanger the region,” NSC said in a statement.

“We strictly adhere to the provisions of the constitution that the Philippines can neither employ the use of nuclear weapons or engage in offensive war,” it added.

The NSC also said China is the one boosting its offensive capabilities.

“It is deceptive for the PRC (People’s Republic of China) to comment on our right to improve our defense capabilities and position when they are the ones dramatically improving offensive capabilities,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said no foreign nation can dictate how the country will fortify its defenses.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla stressed that it is the mandate of the AFP to uphold national security so the military needs to counter and mitigate attacks to protect Philippines’ sovereignty.

“The AFP is committed to ensuring a secure and resilient Philippines in the face of modern challenges. So kung ano po ‘yung modern challenges that we’re facing, titignan po natin how we would counter and mitigate attacks to our sovereignty,” she said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said last month that he was willing to pull out the Typhon missiles from the country only if China will stop its aggressions in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos made the remark in response to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry calling on the Philippines to “correct the wrongdoing as soon as possible” by pulling out the missile launchers.

The Typhon missile system includes Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of hitting targets in both China and Russia, while its SM-6 missiles can engage air or sea targets over 200 kilometers away, according to a report.