MANILA. The United States and the Philippines are in talks over the possible deployment of additional missile launchers in the country to bolster deterrence against aggression in the South China Sea and other Asian security flashpoints, according to Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez. No final decision has been reached.
The discussions follow recent U.S. military activities in the Philippines, including the delivery of a Typhoon mid-range missile system during joint exercises in April last year and the deployment of an anti-ship missile launcher to Batanes in April this year. Batanes sits just across the sea from Taiwan, a key area of strategic concern.
China has protested the presence of U.S. missile systems, warning they threaten regional stability and urging the Philippines to remove them, a request rejected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. Romualdez said the potential installation of more Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) launchers is being considered for coastal areas facing the South China Sea and other outlying regions.
“This is part of the strong U.S. and Philippines defense partnership,” Romualdez told The Associated Press.
Speaking at a trade and investment conference in Manila alongside Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, Romualdez urged U.S. companies to invest in Philippine industries ranging from energy and telecommunications to infrastructure and naval shipbuilding. He stressed that economic strength enhances the country’s ability to be a capable defense ally.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during his visit to Manila in March, underscored that the Trump administration aims to strengthen deterrence against global threats, including China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea. He emphasized that peace would be maintained “through strength.”
The South China Sea remains a hotspot, with overlapping claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and China, which claims nearly the entire waterway. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine forces have increased, including a recent collision between Chinese navy and coast guard ships while blocking a Philippine vessel near Scarborough Shoal.
On Wednesday, the U.S. deployed two warships in a “freedom of navigation” operation in the disputed waters, underscoring the importance of maintaining open shipping lanes for global trade worth trillions of dollars annually.
“Freedom of navigation is essential for commerce, lives, and livelihoods,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said.
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