MANILA, Dec 24 (Reuters) - The Philippines' defence minister on Tuesday justified the country's deployment of a US medium-range missile system and plans to acquire its own, despite opposition from China, a longstanding rival in the South China Sea.
"Any deployment and procurement of assets related to the Philippines' security and defence fall within its own sovereign prerogative and are not subject to any foreign veto," minister Gilberto Teodoro said in a statement.
