US deploys advanced missile system to Philippines for military drills in show of strength against China

China has criticized the United States for escalating military tensions by sending a strong missile launcher to the Philippines for military drills. The missile launcher can shoot weapons up to 1,600 kilometers away.

According to Beijing, the deployment of the US Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) ground-based missile system heightens the chances of making wrong decisions in an already tense region. This adds to the existing tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The first-ever deployment of the MRC missile system, also known as the Typhon system, to the Indo-Pacific theater is currently taking place. This deployment coincides with a series of US-Philippine military exercises, including the largest-ever edition of the bilateral Balikatan exercises starting on Monday.

Although the US Army has not specified how long the Typhon system will be in the Philippines, its participation in joint exercises with the two treaty allies is significant. Analysts believe that this signals the capability of the US to position offensive weaponry in close proximity to Chinese installations in the South China Sea, the southern Chinese mainland, and along the Taiwan Strait.

The Typhon system is able to launch the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6), a missile that can be used for ballistic missile defense and can target ships at sea up to 370 kilometers (230 miles) away, as stated by the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Additionally, the Typhon system is capable of launching the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, a cruise missile that can maneuver and has a range of 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), according to the CSIS.

Last week during a routine news briefing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized the US for pursuing a "unilateral military advantage" and emphasized Beijing's firm opposition to the deployment.

Lin stated, "We call on the US to sincerely consider other countries' security worries, refrain from escalating military tensions, refrain from disrupting peace and stability in the area, and make tangible efforts to decrease strategic risks."

The US Army is calling the deployment, which began April 11 for the Salaknib exercise, a “landmark” in its regional capability.

Diplomatic fallout

The apparent diplomatic fallout is happening during a four-day Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China. Attendees from 29 countries, including the US Pacific Fleet commander, are participating in the event.

According to the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency, the attendees will focus on discussing topics such as maritime peace, maritime order based on maritime security cooperation and international laws, and global maritime governance.

Washington and Manila accuse Beijing of ignoring the same rules with aggressive Chinese actions that have injured Filipino sailors and damaged vessels around disputed features in the South China Sea.

The 1951 mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines, the oldest such US pact in Asia-Pacific, stipulates that both sides would help defend each other if either were attacked by a third party.

In a brief chat with CNN at the event, US Adm. Stephen Koehler expressed his enthusiasm about the gathering, stating, "I think it’s a great opportunity for all navies to get together and discuss all the issues."

A Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher is unloaded from a US Air Force C-17 in the Philippines earlier this month.

A Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher is unloaded from a US Air Force C-17 in the Philippines earlier this month.

US Army Pacific

China’s missile advantage

Analysts say the deployment of the Typhon missile battery is the first signal of US plans to address what has long been an advantage for Beijing in the region.

Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, stated that this new development helps to balance out the previous situation where Chinese missiles posed a threat to US forces along the First Island Chain (which includes the northern Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan) and further eastward along the Second Island Chain centered on Guam.

Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio/Andersen Air Force Base

Related article

The US recently conducted a test of a hypersonic missile in the Pacific Ocean. This test is part of the effort to stay competitive with China and Russia in missile technology. In a report for the US Army's Military Review journal in 2021, it was highlighted that the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) currently holds a significant advantage in missiles.

Army Maj. Christopher Milhal stated that the PLARF's conventional arm is the largest ground-based missile force globally. They possess over 2,200 conventionally armed ballistic and cruise missiles, along with enough antiship missiles to target every US surface combatant vessel in the South China Sea. This immense firepower can overpower the missile defense systems of each ship.

Although the Typhon may not match the PLARF's numbers, its mobility poses a challenge for Chinese mission planners. Analysts believe that this mobility gives the Typhon significant deterrent value.

The US military recently announced the deployment of the Typhon system to the Philippines. The system was transported from Washington state to the Philippines via an 8,000-mile, 15-hour flight by a US Air Force C-17 cargo jet.

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Experts believe that the Typhon system will not have a permanent base in the Philippines. However, according to Koh, the flexibility to relocate the batteries to various pre-selected launch sites in the region at short notice enhances their ability to withstand threats and poses a challenge to China's emerging intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and targeting capabilities.

It is unclear if the Typhon's temporary status will lessen the consequences, but China has reacted strongly in the past to missile placements in its perceived territory.

According to analyst Rupert Schulenberg writing for the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance Blog, China imposed an unofficial economic boycott on South Korea in 2016 after the deployment of a THAAD defensive missile system on the Korean Peninsula. This boycott resulted in a $7.5 billion economic loss for South Korea in 2017.

A Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile launcher is loaded into a US Air Force C-17 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, on April 4, 2024.

US Army Pacific

Before 2019, the US military was not allowed to deploy ground-launched missile systems like the Typhon. This was because such systems were prohibited under the 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the US and the Soviet Union.

The US formally withdrew from the treaty in 2019, with then-President Donald Trump citing Russian noncompliance and concerns about China’s intermediate-range missile arsenal. Balikatan exercises begin.

The US and the Philippines started their biggest joint exercises on Monday. The Balikatan drills, which last for three weeks, involve thousands of military personnel working together.

According to a report from the official Philippine News Agency, Manila plans to demonstrate its military's most advanced systems during the exercises. This includes a missile frigate, light fighter jets, close-combat support aircraft, and Black Hawk helicopters.

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Philippine officials had mentioned that the naval part of the exercise will go beyond the 12-nautical-mile limit of Philippine waters for the first time, reaching into the country's exclusive economic zone, about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from Philippine shores. However, they have not given the exact route yet.

According to Philippine officials, the exercise will also involve French naval participation in a group sail from Palawan Island.

Palawan is located between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea, approximately 200 kilometers away from Second Thomas Shoal. This area in the Spratly Islands has been a hotspot for tensions between Philippine and Chinese coast guard vessels. Filipino sailors have been injured in dangerous confrontations where Chinese ships targeted Philippine vessels with water cannons.

This report includes contributions from CNN's Steven Jiang in Qingdao.

Editor's P/S:

The deployment of the Typhon missile system in the Philippines has heightened tensions between the United States and China, with Beijing accusing Washington of escalating military tensions in the region. Analysts believe that this move signals a shift in US strategy to address China's missile advantage, balancing out the threat posed by Chinese missiles to US forces in the First and Second Island Chains. The Typhon's mobility and ability to be deployed to various locations at short notice add to its deterrent value, posing a challenge to China's intelligence and targeting capabilities.

It remains unclear how the Typhon's temporary status in the Philippines will affect the consequences, as China has a history of reacting strongly to missile placements within its perceived territory. Experts speculate that the US military will likely avoid establishing a permanent base for the system in the Philippines to minimize potential diplomatic fallout. However, the deployment has already raised concerns about the escalating arms race in the region, and its long-term implications remain to be seen.