On Thursday, May 30, 2024, China’s defense ministry vehemently condemned the deployment of a U.S. intermediate-range missile system in the northern Philippines during April’s military maneuvers. They declared it a perilous provocation that elevates the specter of conflict in the region.
At a press conference in Beijing, Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian rebuked the deployment, emphasizing its unprecedented nature within the Indo-Pacific theater. “The actions of the United States and the Philippines cast the entire region into the crosshairs of American aggression, amplifying the looming threat of war,” Wu cautioned, denouncing the move as a severe disruption to regional stability.
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In a crescendo of concern, Wu underscored the strategic significance of intermediate-range missiles, likening them to relics of the Cold War era, potent symbols of offensive capability. He pointed out China’s own deployment of advanced intermediate-range missiles, forming a formidable component of its ballistic missile arsenal.
Logistical Test or Operational Prep?
The announcement by the U.S. last month regarding the deployment of its Typhon missile system to the Philippines, as part of the Balikatan military exercises, intensified tensions. Although the Philippine military confirmed the presence of the missile system in Laoag city, officials remained tight-lipped about its current whereabouts or disposition.
While the missile system was not utilized during the drills, Colonel Michael Logico disclosed its airlift to the region for logistical testing purposes, sparking apprehension about its potential operational deployment. Efforts to reach Philippine military officials for comment on Thursday were unsuccessful, leaving uncertainties lingering.
The joint military exercises, involving approximately 16,000 Filipino and U.S. troops, included maneuvers near Taiwan and in waters disputed by China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. These activities drew sharp criticism from Beijing, warning against external powers flexing their military muscle and inciting confrontation in the region.
The introduction of the Typhon midrange ground-based missile launcher by the U.S. Army into the Indo-Pacific region for joint military exercises in the northern Philippines signals a seismic shift in regional power dynamics. This move is likely sending reverberations of apprehension through Beijing’s corridors of power.
Missile System Details:
- System Name: Typhon Midrange Ground-Based Missile Launcher
- Capabilities:
- Fires Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 missiles
- SM-6 Missiles: Defense against hypersonic weapons
- Purpose: Initially airlifted for logistical testing
Announcing this unprecedented move on April, the U.S. Army emphasized the historic significance of deploying the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system to Northern Luzon for Exercise Salaknib 24. This landmark event not only showcases the cutting-edge capabilities of the Typhon launcher but also underscores the deepening collaboration between the U.S. and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, bolstering interoperability and defense readiness.
Typhon Missile System’s Potential Defensive Role Amidst Rising Tensions
With the Tomahawk missiles boasting a range exceeding 1,600 kilometers, any positioning in Luzon could effectively command the entirety of the Luzon Strait and extend reach towards the Chinese coast. Furthermore, it casts a shadow over key People’s Liberation Army installations in the disputed South China Sea and its environs, heightening the stakes in an already tense region.
The pronouncements from General Charles Flynn, echoing previous assertions made in December, further underscore the gravity of the situation. His cryptic remarks, hinting at the imminent arrival of a long-range precision fire capability in the region, leave little doubt about the strategic intent behind the deployment. While specifics are shrouded in secrecy, all signs point towards the formidable Typhon system.
“I’m not going to discuss what system and I’m not going to say where and when… there will be a long-range precision fire capability that will come to the region.”
– General Charles Flynn
In response, China issued unequivocal warnings at that time, branding any such deployment of longer-range missiles as a perilous escalation. The specter of a “dangerous trend” looms large, threatening to unleash a cascade of consequences in an already volatile geopolitical landscape.
“China firmly opposes this and will take resolute countermeasures,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian declared at a news conference on April. He urged the United States to respect the security concerns of other nations and refrain from actions that destabilize regional peace and stability.
Last year, the U.S. Army reported successful tests of the Typhon missile system, which includes four trailer-based launchers and supporting equipment, capable of firing both Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles. The SM-6 missiles, touted as the U.S. military’s primary defense against highly maneuverable hypersonic weapons, provide a potential defensive application for the system.
Guam Emerges as Potential Site
While Japan has been considered a potential host for the Typhon system, deployment faces significant hurdles due to public opposition. Stationing such systems in Japan would likely make the deployment sites prime targets for China’s extensive missile arsenal.
A more permanent deployment of the Typhon system may take place in Guam, a U.S. territory with a major military base. This would be the first such deployment since the Cold War, reflecting escalating tensions as China continues to expand its missile capabilities, capable of targeting U.S. bases in Japan and the broader Pacific.
The backdrop to these developments includes the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, which banned all land-based missiles with ranges between 500 km and 5,500 km (310 miles and 3,400 miles). The U.S. withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019, citing Russian violations. Meanwhile, China, not a signatory to the treaty, has amassed an estimated 1,850 missiles within this range, according to the Pentagon’s latest annual report on the Chinese military.
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty:
- Year Established: 1987
- Scope: Banned land-based missiles with ranges between 500 km and 5,500 km
- U.S. Withdrawal: Cited Russian violations in 2019
- China’s Status: Not a signatory; amassed an estimated 1,850 missiles within banned range
Advocates argue that positioning the Typhon missile system in Guam or through rotational, short-term deployments near U.S. Asian allies could significantly enhance deterrence against China, particularly as Beijing intensifies its military presence around Taiwan and in the South China Sea.
However, detractors caution that this strategy could provoke China to further expand its already formidable missile and nuclear capabilities, heightening the risk of escalation and inching Washington and Beijing closer to a conflict both nations claim they wish to avoid.
