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Why is the US Typhon missile system being withdrawn from the Philippines?
- Amid tension around South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, analysts say Beijing has been made aware the system can be redeployed at any time
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Manila’s announcement that a US mid-range missile system will be withdrawn from the Philippines within months is a “gesture” to ease tensions with Beijing in the disputed South China Sea, but the system could still be redeployed to the region, analysts said.
Colonel Louie Dema-ala, a Philippine Army spokesman, said on Tuesday the Typhon weapons system deployed in his country would return to the United States in September “as per plan” once other defence equipment used during joint exercises with the US military had been shipped back.
“The US Army is currently shipping out their equipment that we used during Balikatan and Salaknib [exercises],” Dema-ala said.
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However, Dema-ala did not say why Washington was stopping the deployment.
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In April, US Army Pacific announced that the service had “successfully” deployed its Mid-Range Capability missile system on the northern Philippine island of Luzon as part of Balikatan and Salaknib annual exercises between the Philippines and the US military.
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