American and Filipino security officials have agreed to keep a U.S. mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines indefinitely to boost deterrence despite China's expressions of alarm. The Typhon missile system, capable of firing the Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, was transported by the U.S. Army to the northern Philippines in April for combat exercises with Philippine troops. The Tomahawk missiles, with a range of over 1,000 miles, put China within their target range.
Officials are considering keeping the missile system in the northern Philippines until April next year, coinciding with the annual Balikatan exercises between U.S. and Philippine forces. Chinese diplomats have raised concerns about the deployment, warning that it could destabilize the region.
While a Philippine army spokesperson initially indicated the system would be removed by the end of the month, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. neither confirmed nor denied an extension. Teodoro dismissed China's objections as interference in the Philippines' internal affairs, emphasizing the need to enhance defensive capabilities.
Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. expressed a desire to retain the missile system permanently for defense purposes. The U.S. and the Philippines have criticized China's assertive actions in the South China Sea, where multiple countries have overlapping territorial claims.
Despite China's opposition to increased U.S. military presence in the region, the U.S. and the Philippines have maintained their stance on countering China's territorial ambitions. The South China Sea remains a contentious area with ongoing disputes among various nations.
