United States(Washington Insider Magazine)-American and Filipino security officials have agreed to retain a U.S. mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines indefinitely, a move aimed at strengthening deterrence despite China’s objections. The Typhon missile system, which can launch both the Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, was initially brought to the Philippines for joint combat exercises in April and has now sparked discussions about its extended presence
The Tomahawk missiles can reach targets over 1,000 miles away, putting significant portions of China within range. Officials are considering maintaining the missile system until April 2025, coinciding with the annual Balikatan exercises, which means “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog.
Philippine officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, highlighted that there has been no official comment from U.S. representatives regarding the deployment. Chinese diplomats have voiced their concerns, warning that this missile system could destabilize the region.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. firmly rejected China’s demands for the missile’s removal, labelling them as interference in the Philippines’ internal affairs. “China is saying that they are alarmed, but that is interference in our internal affairs,” he stated. Teodoro urged China to lead by example by dismantling its own nuclear arsenal and withdrawing from contested territories in the South China Sea.
Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. expressed his preference for the Typhon system to remain permanently in the country, stating,
“If I were given a choice, I would like to have the Typhon here in the Philippines forever because we need it for our defence.”
Last month, during discussions between Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, China reiterated its alarm over the missile deployment, claiming it could be “destabilizing.” However, Manalo disagreed, emphasizing that the missile system was only temporarily stationed in the Philippines.
Despite being deployed for joint drills, the missile system was not utilized during the exercises. The increased U.S. military presence in the region, particularly in the Philippines, has faced strong opposition from China, which claims such actions threaten regional stability.
The South China Sea remains a contentious area with overlapping territorial claims from Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, alongside China and the Philippines. As tensions rise, the strategic significance of the region, believed to harbor vast undersea resources, becomes increasingly pronounced.
