The Philippines has said it will acquire the US Typhoon missile system, prompting warnings from China

The Philippines announced on Monday that it intends to acquire the American Typhoon missile system as part of its efforts to secure its maritime interests, sparking warnings from China of a regional “arms race.”

The US military deployed the intermediate-range missile system to the northern Philippines earlier this year for annual joint military exercises with its longtime ally and decided to leave it there despite Beijing’s criticism that it was destabilizing Asia.

Philippine Army Commander Lt. Gen. Ruy Galido said in a press conference on Monday that the missile system will be acquired “because we see its feasibility and functionality in our concept of implementing archipelagic defense.”

“I am pleased to inform our citizens that your army is developing this capability in order to protect our sovereignty,” he said, adding that the total cost of the acquisition would depend on “the economy.”

The presence of the US missile launcher has angered Beijing, whose navy and coast guard have been engaged in escalating confrontations in recent months with the Philippines over coral reefs and disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a major global shipping route, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

Manila and Washington, long-time treaty allies, have deepened their agreements Defense cooperation Since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos took office in 2022 and began to roll back Beijing’s sovereignty claims over the South China Sea.

The United States does not have any claims in the South China Sea, but has warned that it does Obligated to defend the Philippines If its forces are attacked there, and it declares that freedom of navigation is among its fundamental national interests.

On Monday, China quickly condemned the decision to acquire the system, calling it a “provocative and dangerous step” and warning that it could lead to an “arms race.”

“It is an absolutely irresponsible choice for the history of its people and the people of Southeast Asia, as well as for regional security,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.

“The region needs peace and prosperity, not missiles and confrontation,” she added, urging Manila to “correct its wrong practices as soon as possible.”

As a rule, it takes the Philippine military at least two years or more to get a new weapons system from the planning stage, Galido said Monday, adding that it has not yet been included in the 2025 budget.

He added that it took Manila five years to receive the BrahMos cruise missile last year.

The ground-based “medium-range” Typhoon missile launcher, developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Army, has a range of 300 miles, although a longer-range version is in development.

Galido said the Typhoon system would enable the military to “project power” outward up to 200 nautical miles, the maximum limit of the archipelago nation’s maritime entitlements under UNCLOS.

“You have to take into account the fact that 200 nautical miles away, there is no land there and the army cannot go there,” he said.

He added that the Typhoon platform “will protect our floating assets,” referring to Philippine Navy, Coast Guard and other vessels.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun warned in June that the deployment of Typhoon aircraft “severely harms regional security and stability.”

But Galido rejected criticism of the Typhoon system in the Philippines.

“We should not be disturbed by others’ obvious concerns because we have no plans to deviate from our country’s interests,” he said.