The official made the remark amid concerns growing about the operations of China's coastguard in disputed waters.

The move comes after the Philippines protested a new law in China that allows its coastguard to board or open fire on foreign vessels in waters it regards as its territory, which officials said could heighten risks of a miscalculation, Bangkok Post reported.

"We will increase our visibility through the deployment of more naval assets, but I just want to make clear our navy presence there is not (to) wage war against China but to secure our own people," Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said in a media briefing as quoted by the newspaper.

"That pronouncement by China that their coastguard can open fire at people intruding into their territory is very alarming," Sobejana said.

"It's a very irresponsible statement because our people are not going to the disputed area to go to war but to earn a living," the official said.