Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that the U.S. placement of intermediate-range missiles in the Philippines “undermines regional peace and stability,” according to a report from the foreign ministry on Sunday. During a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in New York on Saturday, Wang emphasized the need to prevent “war or chaos on the Korean Peninsula,” as noted in a ministry post on its website.

This year, the U.S. has deployed the Typhon system, which can be armed with cruise missiles capable of targeting Chinese locations. China has called for its removal, and Russia has also condemned the initial deployment of this system in the Indo-Pacific, accusing the U.S. of escalating an arms race. Wang remarked that this deployment “is not in the interests of regional countries.”

The Philippines, located south of Taiwan—which China claims as its territory—plays a crucial role in U.S. strategy in Asia and would serve as a vital base for military support to Taipei in the event of a Chinese offensive. Wang also noted that exchanges and cooperation between China and South Korea have become increasingly active this year.