Philippines to Purchase US Missile Launcher: The Philippines plans to acquire US intermediate-range missile launchers (Typhon system) to enhance its defense capabilities, a move that is likely to draw objections from China.
Historical Context of Typhon: The Typhon missile launcher system, first deployed by the US in April after the 2019 end of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, has remained in the Philippines post-joint drills.
China’s Reaction: Beijing has condemned the deployment as “provocative” and expressed discontent with Manila’s defense initiatives, including its recent maritime sovereignty laws.
Modernization and Defense Strategy: Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has shifted its focus from internal insurgencies to bolstering sovereignty, supported by increased military funding and new defense infrastructure.
Strategic Importance: The Philippines, situated along critical maritime routes, aims to fortify key areas to counter China’s military expansion, with ongoing efforts like the BrahMos missile base on Luzon’s west coast.
The Philippines is set to acquire US-made intermediate-range missile launchers, escalating its defense posture amid rising tensions with China. The planned procurement of the Typhon system, initially deployed during joint exercises in April, reflects Manila’s shift toward enhancing military capabilities to safeguard sovereignty under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This move follows Beijing’s objections to defense advancements and recent maritime sovereignty laws enacted by the Philippines. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro highlighted the missile system’s strategic value in boosting deterrence and complementing existing BrahMos missiles. The modernization drive includes significant investments in naval and air bases along strategic coastline
Philippines to Purchase US Missile Launcher
The Philippines plans to acquire intermediate-range missile launchers from the US, a move expected to provoke further Chinese protests regarding Manila’s initiatives to enhance its defenses.
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro mentioned in a Financial Times interview that his nation was considering acquiring mid-range capability (MRC) launchers, which the United States introduced to the Philippines in April during two joint military exercises.
“We plan to obtain capabilities of that nature,” Teodoro stated. “We will not sacrifice our right to obtain any such capabilities in the future within our borders.”
The launch of the Typhon system in April marked the United States’ first deployment of an intermediate-range missile system since the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty dissolved in 2019. The agreement prohibited the US and Russia from creating or stationing any nuclear or conventional missile systems with distances between 500 and 5,500km.
The launcher has stayed in the Philippines since the drills. Beijing has condemned both the initial deployment and its extension as “provocative” and “destabilizing.”
Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, stated that the military is still training with the launcher and focusing on its mobility, as Manila is “considering procuring” the system.
The remarks follow Beijing’s criticism of Manila regarding its defense modernization and attempts to protect its maritime rights.
The Philippines, the longest-standing US military partner in Asia, has revitalized defense collaboration with Washington since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr began his term in 2022, but these actions have led to backlash from Beijing.
On Friday, China called in the Philippines’ ambassador to express its discontent after Marcos enacted two domestic laws clarifying Manila’s sovereign rights in maritime areas and sea routes, as outlined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Chinese foreign ministry stated that Beijing objected to what it termed the “illegal” addition of reefs, islands, and waters that it asserts.
Acquiring MRC missile launchers will contribute to Marcos’s efforts to enhance the capability of the Philippines’ armed forces in detecting and deterring threats, as he redirects the nation’s emphasis from addressing prolonged internal insurgencies to safeguarding its sovereignty. The modernization initiative, supported by a threefold increase in the military budget, entails proposals for multiple new naval and air installations.
Teodoro stated that Typhon would enhance the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles acquired by Manila from India. “It enhances complexity and boosts deterrence,” he stated. The MRC system is appropriate for missiles that surpass the 200 to 300km range of the BrahMos.
The military of the Philippines is constructing its initial BrahMos base on Luzon’s western shore, overlooking the contested South China Sea. It is also aiming to strengthen additional regions such as the east coast, coastal waters, and airspace vital for US submarines and supply routes, where China’s military presence is growing.
The nation comprising over 7,000 islands is positioned at a crucial crossroads of shipping routes linking east Asia to Australia, south-east Asia, and India. Several of the most intense conflicts of the Second World War took place in the bays and straits of the archipelago.
“The locations for forward-operating bases would typically correspond to our archipelagic baselines,” Teodoro remarked, indicating the outer boundaries of the nation’s territorial waters. “I truly think that we must invest significantly in infrastructure along the eastern seaboard for air and naval bases.”
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