The United States which has been a long-time ally of the Philippines has vowed to protect the island nation against Chinese aggressive manoeuvres in the South China Sea and has now gone ahead to deploy a U.S. mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines.
The recent move comes in the wake of U.S. support and its aim to bolster the Philippines’ security and deterrence capabilities amidst Chinese expansionism, as per what Philippine officials said on September 25.
The Thyphon missile system was transported by the United States as a part of its combat exercises with the Philippines and also to test its deployability aboard an Air Force aircraft. The land-based weapon system is capable of firing the Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile which can reach the Chinese mainland by travelling over 1,600 km far.
These deadly missile systems are here to stay at least till April next year, deployed in the northern Philippines. Next year, the annual Balikatan Tagalog for “shoulder-to-shoulder” large-scale combat exercises will take place which the United States and the Philippines hold. However, Philippines officials claim that the missile will be removed from here by the end of this month. But Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said he wanted the missile stationed in the Philippines forever.
Beijing has not been happy about the deployment of the missile so close to its territory as it has repeatedly conveyed to the Philippines how the missiles can cause destabilization in the region and at the same time endanger regional stability and peace.
In response, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Asian Defence Industry exhibition in Manila on September 24, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr criticized China for interfering in the Philippines’ internal affairs. He said, ‘They are using reverse psychology in order to deter us from building up our defensive capabilities.’ The Defence Minister instead asked China to take the lead to bring ‘stability’ to the region by removing their ballistic missiles and exiting the West Philippine Sea.
Remember, China and the Philippines are edging closer to war after the former initiated escalator moves against the Philippines’ maritime operations in the region by attacking the latter’s coast guards. Preparing for a counter-offensive, China refused to back down in July and deployed its second aircraft carrier Shandong, seen patrolling off the Philippines coast.
