MANILA - Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Saturday described as "trivial" and a "non-issue" the incident of a Chinese woman who threw a cup of taho (soy bean custard) at a Filipino police officer at an MRT station.

• Told of MRT ban on liquids, Chinese woman throws drink at Filipino police officer

Locsin, responding to a tweet, said the incident "can happen anywhere to anyone in any country."

"Aw c'mon. Let's not be trivial. This can happen anywhere to anyone in any country. Aggression by taho? Defense by the same? Boy we really need arms deals to flesh out our sense of nationhood and sovereignty. This non-issue trying to be one is pathetic," he said.

Aw c'mon. Let's not be trivial. This can happen anywhere to anyone in any country. Aggression by taho? Defense by the same? Boy we really need arms deals to flesh out our sense of nationhood and sovereignty. This non-issue trying to be one is pathetic.

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 9, 2019

The Chinese woman identified as Jiale Zhang, a 23-year-old fashion design student, threw the drink after security guards stopped her from entering the platform of the train station which has prohibited drinks and liquids.

Zhang will be charged with direct assault, disobedience to person in authority, and unjust vexation.

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In a statement, the transportation department said the security measure against unconsumed beverage and food had been in place even before the recent ban on bottled water, drinks and liquids at train stations.

• MRT, LRT ban bottled drinks inside train stations