MANILA. In a significant move to bolster regional defense capabilities, American and Filipino security officials have agreed to keep a U.S. mid-range missile system stationed in the northern Philippines, despite China’s growing alarm. According to two Philippine officials, the missile system, originally brought in for combat exercises, will remain in the country for an extended period.
The U.S. Army deployed the Typhon missile system in April as part of joint military exercises with Philippine forces. The land-based system, capable of firing both the Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, was brought to the region to test its mobility aboard an Air Force aircraft. With a range exceeding 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), Tomahawk missiles can place key targets in China within striking distance.
While the missile system was initially scheduled to be removed by the end of September, officials are now considering extending its stay until April next year. This extension would coincide with the annual Balikatan (Tagalog for “shoulder-to-shoulder”) exercises, a large-scale combat drill between U.S. and Philippine forces.
Two Philippine officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic, revealed the decision. U.S. officials, however, have yet to comment on the matter.
China’s Reactions and Philippine Response
China has expressed strong opposition to the presence of the missile system, warning that it could destabilize the region. In recent talks, Chinese diplomats have conveyed their concerns to the Philippine government. However, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. dismissed these concerns, characterizing them as interference in the country’s internal affairs.
“China is saying that they are alarmed, but that is interference into our internal affairs. They are using reverse psychology to deter us from building up our defensive capabilities,” Teodoro remarked during a defense industry exhibition in Manila. In a pointed statement, Teodoro added, “Before they start talking, why don’t they lead by example? Destroy their nuclear arsenal, remove all their ballistic missile capabilities, get out of the West Philippine Sea, and get out of Mischief Reef. Don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house.”
Teodoro referred to the West Philippine Sea, the local name for the disputed South China Sea, where China has maintained missile-protected island bases. One of these bases is located at Mischief Reef, which was seized by Chinese forces in 1995.
Strategic Importance of the Missile System
Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. emphasized the strategic importance of the U.S. missile system for the Philippines’ defense. He expressed a desire for its permanent presence, though he did not disclose whether U.S. officials agreed to this request. “If I were given the choice, I would like to have the Typhon here in the Philippines forever because we need it for our defense,” Brawner said.
In a recent meeting in Laos during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) talks, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo also addressed China’s concerns. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had raised what he described as China’s “very dramatic” worries over the U.S. missile system, warning that its presence could be destabilizing. However, Manalo countered that the deployment was only temporary and not a threat to regional stability.
Rising Tensions in the South China Sea
The U.S. missile deployment is part of a broader effort by Washington and Manila to counter China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea. Tensions have escalated over the past year, with repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine coast guard forces in the disputed waters. The South China Sea is a vital global shipping route believed to hold vast undersea reserves of gas and oil. Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also claim overlapping portions of the waterway.
As tensions simmer in the region, the extension of the U.S. missile system in the Philippines sends a strong signal of the two nations’ resolve to strengthen defense cooperation and maintain stability, despite China’s objections.
Philippine officials remain firm in their stance that the country’s security partnerships, especially with the U.S., are crucial for national defense and regional security.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
