Philippines strengthens defence with US missile launcher deal Sparking further dispute with Beijing

The Philippines is set to acquire intermediate-range missile launchers from the United States, a move that is expected to provoke further protests from China as Manila continues to strengthen its defence capabilities.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro confirmed that the country is looking to purchase mid-range capability (MRC) launchers, similar to those the US deployed during joint military exercises in the Philippines in April, per Caliber.Az.

"We do intend to acquire capabilities of such sort," Teodoro stated. "We will not compromise with our right to acquire any such kind of capabilities in the future within our territory."

The US’s deployment of the Typhon missile launcher in April marked the first use of an intermediate-range missile system by the US since the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, which had prohibited both the US and Russia from developing or deploying missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres. Beijing condemned the deployment, calling it "provocative" and "destabilizing," especially as the launcher has remained in the Philippines since the exercises.

Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, the spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, explained that the military continues to train with the launcher, including practising its mobility, as the Philippines moves forward with plans to procure the system.

The comments come amid ongoing tensions with China, which has criticized the Philippines for its defence modernization efforts and initiatives to safeguard its maritime rights. Recently, China summoned the Philippines' ambassador to protest two new domestic laws signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. These laws define Manila’s sovereign rights in maritime zones and sea lanes, as outlined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Beijing objected to the “illegal” inclusion of reefs, islands, and waters that it claims.

Marcos’s defence push, which includes the acquisition of MRC missile launchers, is part of his broader strategy to strengthen the Philippine military’s ability to detect and deter threats. The shift marks a focus on protecting sovereignty rather than solely countering internal insurgencies. The modernization effort also includes a significant military budget increase, with plans to build new naval and air bases.

The Typhon missile launcher would complement the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles, which the Philippines recently acquired from India. Teodoro noted that the addition of MRC systems would enhance the country’s deterrence capabilities. "It adds depth and increases deterrence," he said. The MRC system’s range is expected to exceed the 200 to 300 kilometres covered by the BrahMos.

The Philippine military is also constructing its first BrahMos base on the west coast of Luzon, facing the contested South China Sea, and is looking to reinforce other strategic areas, including the eastern seaboard. This region is crucial for US submarines and supply lines and has seen increased Chinese military activity.

"The points for forward-operating bases would generally be where our archipelagic baselines are," Teodoro explained, referring to the Philippines’ territorial sea boundaries. "I do believe that we need to put in a lot of infrastructure in the eastern seaboard for air and naval basing."

The country of more than 7,000 islands is at a strategic intersection of shipping lanes that connect East Asia with Australia, Southeast Asia and India. Some of the fiercest battles of the Second World War were fought in the straits and bays of the archipelago.

By Tamilla Hasanova