US Redeploys Rocket Launcher on Allied Territory Near China
6 hours ago
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The United States has reportedly moved a missile system, which had been deployed in the Philippines since last April, to a new site.
Newsweek has contacted the Pentagon and the Armed Forces of the Philippines by email for comment. The Chinese military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
The Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system can fire the Tomahawk cruise missile and the Standard Missile 6, with respective ranges of 1,000 and 290 miles. The former can hit targets at sea and on land, while the latter conducts anti-air and anti-surface missions.
Last spring, the U.S. Army deployed an MRC, also known as Typhon, to ally the Philippines for drills, but it was decided to keep it there “indefinitely.” China, which has territorial disputes with Manila in the South China Sea, has repeatedly objected to the deployment.
What To Know
The Typhon missile system was redeployed from its original site at Laoag airfield on the island of Luzon in the northern Philippines to another location on the island, Reuters reported on Thursday. Tomahawk missiles can strike eastern and southern China from Laoag.
Satellite imagery also captured a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane at Laoag, to be used in relocating the missile system, as early as December 30 last year. A January 8 satellite image showed the missile system was no longer at the airfield.
A senior Philippine government source told Reuters that the Typhon’s relocation would help determine “where and how fast the missile battery could be moved to a new firing position.” Such mobility is seen as a way to make the missile system more survivable in a conflict, the report added.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command confirmed the relocation to Reuters but declined to give the specific location. The command, which is responsible for U.S. forces in the region, said the relocation did not indicate the Typhon would be in the Philippines permanently.
The Philippine Army confirmed to the country’s GMA News Online that the missile system will be employed in an upcoming bilateral exercise with its American counterpart. The exercise, code-named Salaknib, is aimed increasing readiness, reinforcing interoperability and strengthening relationships, according to the U.S. military.
A United States Army Mid-Range Capability missile launcher is loaded into a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington on April 4, 2024. A United States Army Mid-Range Capability missile launcher is loaded into a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington on April 4, 2024. Captain Ryan DeBooy/US Army
Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that the Typhon is a strategic offensive weapon and its deployment in the Philippines is a “highly dangerous move.”
What People Are Saying
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command spokesperson Commander Matthew Comer told Reuters: “The U.S. government has coordinated closely with the Philippine government on every aspect of the MRC deployment, including the location.”
Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala told GMA News Online: “There will be trainings to be conducted utilizing the [Mid-Range Capability missile system] as part of the subject matter expert exchanges in preparation for the Salaknib.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference: “We once again call on the Philippines to heed the call from regional countries and their peoples, correct the wrongdoing as soon as possible, quickly pull out the Typhon missile system as publicly pledged, and stop going further down the wrong path.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen how long the missile system will be stationed in the Philippines and whether it will conduct live-fire tests to validate its capability of striking a moving target.
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