Missile message to Beijing? US to increase its fire power in Philippines

The United States plans to deploy additional advanced missile systems to the Philippines as part of efforts to strengthen deterrence in the South China Sea, with the treaty allies jointly condemning what they described as China’s “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities” in the disputed waters.

The announcement followed annual bilateral talks held on Monday in Manila, where US and Philippine officials discussed expanding security, political and economic cooperation, including closer coordination with regional partners.




In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the two sides outlined plans for increased joint military exercises, US support for modernising the Philippine armed forces and efforts “to increase deployments of US cutting-edge missile and unmanned systems to the Philippines,” reported AP.

“Both sides condemned China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities in the South China Sea, recognizing their adverse effects on regional peace and stability and the economies of the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” the statement said.

The allies also “underscored their support for preserving freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and other lawful uses of the sea for all nations.”

Beijing has repeatedly objected to the deployment of US missile systems in the Philippines, warning that such moves threaten regional stability and are aimed at containing China’s rise. It has urged Manila to withdraw the launchers, a demand rejected by the Philippines led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez, who took part in the talks, told AP that officials discussed the possible deployment this year of “upgraded” US missile launchers that Manila may eventually consider purchasing.

“It’s a kind of system that’s really very sophisticated and will be deployed here in the hope that, down the road, we will be able to get our own,” Romualdez said.

The US Army deployed the Typhon mid-range missile system to Luzon in April 2024. The land-based system can fire Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, which have a range of over 1,000 miles (1,600 km), placing parts of China within reach from northern Philippines.

Separately, US Marines deployed the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System to Batan island in Batanes province last year. The island faces the Bashi Channel, a strategic waterway south of Taiwan that is a key trade and military route.

Romualdez said the US deployments were not intended to provoke any country. “It’s purely for deterrence,” he said. “Every time the Chinese show any kind of aggression, it only strengthens our resolve to have these types.”

Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels have increased in recent years in the South China Sea, where Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have competing territorial claims.