The United States has no immediate plans to withdraw a mid-range missile system deployed in the Philippines, despite Chinese demands. The Typhon system, which can be equipped with cruise missiles capable of striking Chinese targets, was brought in for joint exercises earlier this year, but has remained there. This decision comes amidst escalating tensions in the region, particularly between the US and China.
The Southeast Asian archipelago, Taiwan’s neighbor to the South, is a crucial part of U.S. strategy in Asia. The Philippines would be an indispensable staging point for the military to aid Taipei in the event of a Chinese attack. This strategic location has heightened tensions, with China and Russia condemning the deployment of the Typhon system. They accuse Washington of fueling an arms race and exacerbating geopolitical confrontation.
China’s foreign ministry expressed strong concern about the plan to keep the system in place, stating it “seriously threatens the security of regional countries and intensifies geopolitical confrontation.”
The deployment of the Typhon system comes at a time when China and the US are clashing over parts of the hotly contested South China Sea. Recent months have seen a series of sea and air confrontations in this strategic waterway. The US has been reinforcing its presence in the region, deploying various anti-ship weapons to counter China’s growing military capabilities.
Philippine officials confirmed that Filipino and US forces continue to train with the Typhon system, which is located on the northern island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Despite the joint exercises ending this month, there are no immediate plans to return the system.
A Philippine army spokesman, Colonel Louie Dema-ala, stated that training with the Typhon is ongoing and the decision on the system’s stay will be made by higher authorities, including the US Army Pacific (USARPAC).
A public affairs officer for USARPAC confirmed the Philippine army’s statement that the Typhon could stay beyond September, and soldiers trained with it as recently as last week. The training focused on integrating host nation support and exploring the system’s potential use in a conflict.
Senior Philippine government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the US and the Philippines are testing the feasibility of using the Typhon system in a conflict. The system’s mobility and adaptability are being evaluated in the region’s environment. One official stated that the Typhon’s presence in the Philippines is a “test on the feasibility of deploying it in country so that when the need arises, it could easily be deployed here.”
The US Army flew the Typhon, which can launch missiles including SM-6 missiles and Tomahawks with a range exceeding 1,600 km (994 miles), to the Philippines in April. This deployment was hailed as a “historic first” and a “significant step in our partnership with the Philippines.”
Satellite imagery confirmed the Typhon’s presence at the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte province. While acknowledging the strategic value of keeping the system to deter China, the senior government official stated that there are no immediate plans to withdraw it. They emphasized that the system’s presence aims to “give them sleepless nights,” referring to China’s military activities in the region.
The US has been amassing various anti-ship weapons in Asia to counter China’s expanding military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. While the US military has not disclosed the exact number of weapons deployed, government documents indicate that over 800 SM-6 missiles are expected to be procured in the next five years. This addition to the US’s arsenal reinforces its commitment to maintaining a strong presence in the region.
China has consistently denounced the deployment of the Typhon system, viewing it as a threat to regional stability. Russia, aligning with China’s concerns, has also condemned the deployment, citing it as a reason for resuming production of intermediate- and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles.
Despite these concerns, the Philippines, a US treaty ally, has assured China that the presence of the Typhon system does not pose a threat to its security. They maintain that the system will not destabilize the region.
This ongoing strategic maneuvering between major powers in the Indo-Pacific highlights the escalating tensions and complex geopolitical dynamics in the region. The deployment of the Typhon system signifies a significant shift in the balance of power, further intensifying competition between the US and China for influence in the Asia-Pacific.
