U.S. and Northern Philippine forces agree to keep Typhon missile system in place, bolstering defense against China.
MANILA, Philippines — U.S. and Filipino security folks have come to an important deal to keep a U.S. mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines forever, aiming to beef up their defenses against China’s growing tensions, two Philippine officials mentioned on Wednesday.
A few months back, the U.S. Army moved the Typhon missile system—a land-based weapon that can shoot Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles—to the northern Philippines during a joint military drill in April.
The Tomahawk missiles can hit targets over 1,000 miles away, putting China in the crosshairs.
They’re thinking about keeping the missile system around until at least April next year, right in the middle of the yearly Balikatan big military show.
China’s diplomats have been pretty upset about this missile move, saying it could mess up the area’s peace.
But Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. brushed off these concerns, saying they were just meddling in the Philippines’ own business.
He made it clear that China’s push to sway the decision on defense gear wouldn’t be taken lightly, saying, “They’re trying to scare us into not making our defenses stronger.”
US Missile System to Remain in Philippines Amidst China's Concerns https://t.co/QB1MMxW3Cl
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Teodoro wants China to step up and get rid of its own nuclear and missile stuff in the area. Philippine military chief Gen.
Romeo Brawner Jr. wants the Typhon system to stay around forever, pointing out how crucial it is for the country’s defense.
Even with all the tension, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo stands by the missile system’s placement, pushing back against China’s worries about destabilization by saying it only makes the Philippines’ defenses stronger.
China’s pushback against more U.S. military presence in the area highlights the growing rivalry in the South China Sea, where lots of countries, like Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan, are fighting over land that’s up for grabs, making the situation even more complicated.