China has issued a sharp warning to the United States, cautioning against plans to build an ammunition production facility in the Philippines, saying such a move risks bringing “conflict and the chaos of war” to the Asia-Pacific region. The warning comes amid growing defense cooperation between Washington and Manila, raising tensions with Beijing.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged the United States and its allies to reconsider proposals to establish an ammunition assembly and production line in the Philippines, warning that the plan could destabilize the region. 

“The US and its allies should earnestly respect the common aspirations of regional countries and refrain from introducing bloc confrontation, conflict and the chaos of war into the Asia-Pacific,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a press briefing.

The proposal for the facility emerged from the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR), a US-led defense initiative formed in 2024 to strengthen supply chains and boost military readiness among allies. The group, which includes 16 members such as Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, agreed last week to assess funding for the new ammunition plant.

Washington has argued that the facility would help allies produce and sustain military equipment closer to potential flashpoints, reducing reliance on long supply chains vulnerable to disruption. Critics, however, warn that the Philippines risks being drawn deeper into US military strategy, potentially making the country a target in the event of conflict. 

The South China Morning Post reported that opposition voices in Manila have described the plan as “warmongering” and a dangerous step toward turning the Philippines into a logistics arm of US military operations.

China’s warning reflects its broader concerns about US military presence in the region, particularly in the South China Sea, where Beijing has overlapping territorial claims with several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines. The Straits Times noted that Chinese officials said the move would “backfire” by undermining regional stability and escalating tensions.

The Philippines, a long-standing US ally, has recently deepened defense ties with Washington under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), granting US forces access to additional bases across the archipelago. This has already drawn criticism from Beijing, which views the growing US presence as a direct challenge to its influence in the region.

While the US and its allies frame the ammunition facility as a measure to strengthen resilience and preparedness, China’s response underscores the geopolitical risks of expanding military infrastructure in Southeast Asia. The debate highlights the Philippines’ delicate position as it balances its security partnership with Washington against its economic ties with Beijing.

The coming months will likely see further negotiations within PIPIR and discussions between Washington and Manila on whether to proceed with the project. For now, China’s warning signals that any move forward will be closely watched and strongly contested by Beijing.