A missile successfully launched during the Maritime Strike Exercise of the #Balikatan2024. Image by Armed Forces of the Philippines

A powerful midrange U.S. missile system was used for "simulated firing" during a joint military exercise in the Philippines on Wednesday, a U.S. military official said, despite China's opposition to deploying such weaponry in the region.

The medium-range capability missile system was "added to the firing options in the scenario," under which the two countries' forces conducted airstrike training and sank a mock enemy ship in the South China Sea off a western province in the Southeast Asian country, according to a U.S. Defense Department-run website.

The exercise, which began on April 22 and formally ends on Friday, came as tensions in the South China Sea are high in the wake of China's recent aggressive acts against Philippine vessels.

Lt. Col. Brian Block, a U.S. spokesman for the "Balikatan," or shoulder-to-shoulder, exercise, and Philippine officials said in separate phone interviews with Kyodo News that the system was not used to fire a missile.

ATMOS land-based assets demonstrated their firepower during the Maritime Strike Exercise of Balikatan 2024. Image by Armed Forces of the Philippines

Wednesday's "simulated firing" meant that the system's radars and radios were used to receive and send out information to other military vehicles on land, sea, and air that tracked and shot at a target, a decommissioned Philippine warship, for close to three hours, according to Block.

Aside from the Philippines and the United States, Australia participated by deploying an E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

Flown in on a large U.S. military aircraft, the system arrived in the northern Philippines on April 11 as part of a different exercise between the U.S. and Philippine armies.

The BRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81), bathed in the early morning light, awaits its role as the focal point for PH-US maritime strike exercises for Balikpapan 2024. While its operational days are behind it, the vessel will play a part in symbolizing the strength and cooperation between nations in securing maritime peace and stability. LTCSalgado/ PAOAFP

Washington has said the "landmark deployment" of the missile system marked a milestone in the defense capability and enhanced its interoperability with Manila's troops.

But China has criticized the move by the United States, saying it "severely threatens" regional security and undermines peace and stability in the region.

"We hope the relevant country could refrain from opening the door to the devil, which will only end up hurting everyone including itself," Wu Qian, a spokesman for China's Defense Ministry, said in late April.

==Kyodo