China Warns US Against Building Ammunition Facility in PH
China has issued a stern warning to the United States, cautioning against 'conflict and the chaos of war' in the Asia-Pacific. This follows reports that the US and its allies are considering funding an ammunition assembly and production facility in the Philippines, a move Beijing views as a significant provocation and a threat to regional stability.
On March 26, 2026, China issued a stern warning to the United States against building an ammunition assembly and production facility in the Philippines, stating it would bring "conflict and the chaos of war" to the Asia-Pacific region and "backfire" on those involved. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the statement during a press briefing in Beijing, urging the US and its allies to respect regional aspirations and avoid introducing bloc confrontation. He emphasized that China would "firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and security interests," particularly amid ongoing tensions with the Philippines over South China Sea disputes.
The warning follows a decision last week by the 16-member Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR) - including the US, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Britain - to assess funding for a new ammunition assembly and production line in the Philippines. The facility would focus on producing 30mm-by-173mm rounds used in maritime and coastal defense systems. The proposed location is reportedly Subic Bay, a former US naval base, which would serve as a strategic logistics hub for US military operations in the region.
Philippine opposition critics have echoed China's concerns, labeling the plan "warmongering" and warning it could turn the country into a US logistics hub for potential conflicts. The Pentagon has highlighted the facility as part of efforts to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities near potential flashpoints in the region. The PIPIR initiative aims to strengthen industrial resilience and defense manufacturing capabilities among allied nations in response to growing regional security challenges.
China maintains that such military cooperation should not target third parties or undermine regional stability. The Chinese government views the proposed ammunition facility as a significant provocation that could escalate tensions in the South China Sea, where China has ongoing territorial disputes with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. The warning represents the latest development in the ongoing strategic competition between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific region, with the Philippines increasingly becoming a focal point for military cooperation and infrastructure development between Washington and its allies.
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