China: China urged the Philippines on Thursday to remove 'dangerous' US ballistic medium-range missiles from the southeast Asian nation because it is a 'serious provocation.' The Philippines should "pull out the Typhon medium-range ballistic missile at once as publicly pledged and demanded by countries across the region. No more delay for ending this wrong move," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing. According to Anadolu Agency, Lin warned that the presence of these missiles could escalate tensions and lead to an arms race in the region. "It could drive up tension, geostrategic confrontation and arms race in this region," he stated. Lin emphasized the region's desire for "peace and prosperity, not medium-range ballistic missile and confrontation." Manila, being Washington's oldest ally in the Asia-Pacific region, has strengthened its ties with the US under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The relationship has seen expanded access to American military bases in the Philippines. Earlier this year, the Pentagon deployed the Typhon missile system to the archipelago nation, drawing Beijing's ire. The demand from China comes amid rising maritime tensions between the two nations, following the Philippines' enactment of two new laws concerning the disputed South China Sea. President Marcos Jr. recently signed the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act into law. In response, Beijing protested, summoning the Filipino ambassador and labeling the laws as a 'violation' of Chinese territorial sovereignty. China's reaction included military drills by the People's Liberation Army around Scarborough Shoal, a region claimed by both nations. The Philippines has defended the new laws, asserting they aim to uphold its rights and responsibilities within its maritime zones, referred to locally as the West Philippines Sea. The overlapping claims between Beijing and Manila over the resource-rich waters remain a contentious issue. In a related development, the China Coast Gu ard conducted a law enforcement patrol earlier Thursday in the waters surrounding Huangyan Island, part of its rights protection activities.