Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has made a notable proposition to remove the US Typhon missile system from the Philippines, contingent upon China halting its aggressive activities in the South China Sea. The announcement came during the inauguration of an airport runway in Cebu on Thursday. The Typhon missile system, officially known as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile launcher, was delivered by US forces in April for joint drills.
China has repeatedly called for the removal of the Typhon system since its arrival in the Philippines. In response, President Marcos Jnr drew attention to China's own missile capabilities, questioning why Beijing takes issue with the Typhon system while maintaining a formidable arsenal themselves. He accused China of having missile systems significantly more powerful than those in the Philippines.
"I don’t understand their comments on the Typhon missile system. We don’t make any comments on their missile systems and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have." – Ferdinand Marcos Jnr
The Philippines has announced plans to acquire a Typhon system independently, despite China's objections. Security experts perceive Marcos Jnr's proposal as a rhetorical challenge rather than an earnest negotiation attempt. The probability of China curbing its territorial claims in the disputed waterway remains low.
Since its delivery, the Typhon system has been employed in joint military exercises between the United States and the Philippines. The President's offer is not only a strategic move but also highlights his administration's stance on regional security and sovereignty.
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