Philippines faces ‘strategic quandary’ by hosting US Typhon missile system indefinitely

“If they remove the system, they acquiesce to Beijing’s demands and forfeit tactical and strategic advantages. But right now, it’s clear that Washington and Manila want to keep the Typhon as part of any cost-benefit calculus for Chinese escalation.”

The missile system, known as Typhon, is capable of striking targets over 2,500km away, placing critical areas like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait within its reach.

In April, the US Army deployed a Typhon launcher – also known as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) – in Northern Luzon during a joint training exercise. The system remains stationed there to allow Philippine troops to familiarise themselves with its operations.