MANILA, Sept 20 (Askume) – The Philippines hopes to buy medium-range missiles in the future and hopes to use the Typhon system deployed by the United States for military training but currently has no plans to return the system, a senior security official said on Friday.
Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano earlier confirmed a Askume report that the United States had no set timetable for withdrawing its intermediate-range missile systems from the country, which China had requested, citing the risk of geopolitical confrontation.
The United States is testing the viability of the missile system for use in regional conflicts and has no immediate plans to withdraw the system, Askume reported on Thursday.
It was sent to the northern Philippines in April as part of a joint military exercise between the two defence allies, its first deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, though no missiles were fired during the exercise.
When Ano was asked how long the typhoon system would remain in the Philippines, he told reporters, “We have no timetable.” He said a panel of officials from both countries would decide its future. “There are no plans to unplug it at this time.”
Arnold said: “There will be consultations but at the moment we need the Typhon missile launchers for training and to upgrade the capabilities of our armed forces.”
The Typhon missile, which can be equipped with cruise missiles capable of striking Chinese targets, comes amid growing tensions between Beijing and Manila over disputed territories in the South China Sea.
The strategic waterway has been the site of a series of naval and air confrontations in recent months, with China claiming much of the waterway as its territory.
Satellite images taken by commercial satellite company Planet Labs on Wednesday and reviewed by Askume showed the storm parked over Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte province, which faces the South China Sea and is close to the Taiwan Strait.
“We also need to know how to operate it, because in the future, we may want to purchase similar equipment,” Arnold said.
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it was deeply concerned about plans to retain the system.
Underscoring the Philippines’ commitment to its alliance with the United States, Ano said of China, “Nobody can dictate us.”
“We know what’s best for our country, so they can’t dictate to us, especially when it comes to deploying this missile launcher.”
