The United States has no immediate plans to withdraw its mid-range missile system, the Typhon, from the Philippines despite Chinese objections, and is currently testing its potential use in a regional conflict, sources revealed. Initially deployed for joint military exercises earlier this year, the missile system has remained in northern Luzon, a strategic location facing the South China Sea and near the Taiwan Strait.
The Typhon system, capable of launching cruise missiles that could strike Chinese targets, plays a key role in the US-Philippines defense strategy, especially in the event of a conflict involving Taiwan. The Philippines, situated south of Taiwan, is considered a crucial base for US military operations in Asia.
While China and Russia have condemned the deployment, accusing the US of fueling an arms race, Philippine and US military officials continue to train with the system. A spokesperson for the Philippine Army, Colonel Louie Dema-ala, stated that training is ongoing, and the decision to keep the Typhon beyond September lies with the US Army Pacific (USARPAC).
Philippine sources have confirmed that the US and the Philippines are testing the feasibility of using the system in the region, particularly in the event of a potential conflict. The Typhon, designed as a mobile and modular missile platform, is undergoing trials to assess how well it can be deployed in the Philippines should tensions escalate.
The US Army initially brought the Typhon system to the Philippines in April, marking its first deployment in the Indo-Pacific. Although it was intended as a temporary arrangement, reports suggest discussions are ongoing about extending the deployment. The office of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not commented on the matter.
China has repeatedly condemned the deployment of the Typhon missile system, including in May when Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s defence ministry, stated that Manila and Washington were introducing “huge risks of war” into the region.
In July, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo assured China that the Typhon missile system posed no threat and would not destabilize the region. Despite a 2016 ruling favoring the Philippines, China continues to militarize islands in the South China Sea, claiming its facilities are defensive. China maintains it has the right to act within its territory.
