The United States has recently deployed a new weapon system to the Philippines, significantly altering the balance of power in the region and provoking strong opposition from China. This weapon system, which was previously stationed in the Philippines under the Biden administration but later withdrawn, now appears to have been redeployed, signalling a renewed U.S. military presence in the area.
The Typhon missile system, currently deployed in the Philippines, places critical Chinese military and industrial targets within striking range. This advanced weapon system is capable of launching both Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles, significantly enhancing the U.S. military's strategic reach in the region, the Tomahawk missile, with a range of 1,913 km, can be used to target radar systems, command centers, and other key infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the SM-6 missile, with a range of approximately 467 km, is versatile enough to engage a variety of targets, including enemy ships, aircraft carriers, aircraft, and even satellites, In total the following Chinese cities are covered by the Typhon Missile launcher range Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzen and Hong Kong.
This move is widely seen as the first step in a broader deterrence strategy adopted by the current Trump administration to counter China’s expanding military capabilities, both in the South China Sea and the First Island Chain as a whole. In response, China has reacted with strong condemnation, vowing serious retaliation an indication that tensions between the two nations are likely to escalate even further.