China has growing concerns, about a land-based U.S. missile launcher in the Philippines, that was used in recent military drills. A move Beijing worries, could significantly alter the balance of power, if deployed on a permanent basis. China's envoys in Washington, have been reaching out to sources, for further details on the Typhon missile launcher that was deployed to the northern island of Lozon in the Philippines, four months ago as part of a military drill.
A Chinese diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity. That the rocket launcher's length of stay in the Indo-Pacific, an unusually long period for a drill, has caused unease in Beijing. It was the first time the U.S. deployed ground-based missiles to a foreign country, since it withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in August 2019.
It is also unclear where the Typhon missile launcher will be deployed next, after 2024 US Philippines bilateral Exercise in Lozon. At a recent two-plus-two meeting of foreign and defense ministers of the U.S. and Japan, the sides agreed to increase bilateral presence in Japan's Southwest Islands. This has raised concerns that the midrange missiles may be deployed in Japan too, in addition to the midrange missiles earlier deployed in northern Philippines.
Washington and Beijing have sought to stabilize ties after U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in November at the Filoli Estate in San Francisco. China's defense official said that deploying the missiles to the Philippines goes against what the two leaders discussed. It's like bringing a dagger to a lunch where you should talk about improving relations.
Last month, the armed forces of the Philippines expected the Typhon to be shipped out of the country in September at the latest. But local media have reported about the possibility that the stay may be extended.
Liu Pengyu, Minister-counselor & Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, emphasizes that China strongly opposes, the U.S. deploying medium-range ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific. To seek unilateral military advantage, and urged the Philippines, to quickly pull out the missile system as publicly pledged.
By letting the U.S. deploy the missile system on Philippine soil, the Philippines is enabling a country outside the region to fuel tensions and antagonism in this region and incite geopolitical confrontation and arms race. The Typhon launches two types of missiles: the Tomahawk cruise missile, with an estimated range of more than 1,600 kilometers, and the Standard Missile-6 multipurpose interceptor with a range of up to 370 km.
The Tomahawk missiles can reach the Chinese mainland from the Philippines, although they may also be used to target ships. The SM-6 is a shorter-range multi-purpose missile that can target both naval and air forces. Both have the potential to hamper China's air defense systems in the opening salvos of a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait, enabling the U.S. Navy to move in large warships thereafter.
The rocket launcher was airlifted to the Philippines on a 15-hour flight from the 1st Multidomain Task Force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. It is the first time elements of the multi-domain task force, the U.S. Army's new unit that operates long-range precision weapons, has been deployed to the Indo-Pacific.
The army has established multi-domain task forces in Washington state, Germany and Hawaii, but has not been able to find a permanent home in the Indo-Pacific region. The fact the Chinese are wary of the midrange capability is confirmation of its strategic utility, according to Thomas Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Mobile long-range strike launchers capable of holding at-risk surface targets should encourage pause and deter aggression in that part of the world. Many more launchers should follow. On the possibility of midrange missiles being deployed to Japan, China said, The Asia-Pacific region cherishes peace and prosperity, and does not need those missiles and confrontation.
RRIE Meanwhile, China, which was not part of the treaty, amassed more than 2,000 of such missiles, creating a regional advantage over the United States.
Washington is rushing to catch up. According to the fiscal year 2025 budget proposal, the army will purchase more than 330 of the newest Block V variant of the Tomahawk cruise missile for its midrange capability batteries over the next five years.
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27 сен 2024
