The Philippines military said Monday that it plans to acquire the U.S.-made Typhoon missile system, raising alarms in neighboring China.

The U.S. Army deployed the midrange missile system in northern Luzon in April for annual joint military exercises with its longtime ally and left it there despite criticism by Beijing that it was destabilizing to the region, the Manilla Times reported Monday. The Philippines military had been using the system to train.

“It is planned to be acquired because we see its feasibility and its functionality in our concept of archipelagic defense implementation,” Philippines Army Chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido told reporters, according to the Times. “I’m happy to report to our fellow countrymen that your army is developing this capability for the interest of protecting our sovereignty.”

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