China, Beijing
China’s Foreign Ministry has issued a strong rebuke to the United States and Japan, calling on the two nations to promptly withdraw the US-developed Typhon missile system after it was unveiled for the first time in Japan during a joint military exercise. Beijing views the deployment as a significant threat to regional strategic security, warning that it could ignite a new arms race and escalate military confrontation in the Asia-Pacific.
The Typhon system, a key part of the US Army’s long-range precision strike “modernization portfolio,” was showcased during the ongoing “Resolute Dragon” drills between the US and Japan. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, stated that the US and Japan have “disregarded China’s solemn concerns” by insisting on the deployment under the pretext of joint exercises. He added that China “expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this.”
The Typhon system is designed to launch a variety of missiles, including the Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile and the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6), which can be used for ballistic missile defense and targeting ships at sea. Its presence in the region would give the US and its allies a significant advantage, as it can put a wide range of targets at risk. This is precisely what concerns Beijing, which sees the move as a direct challenge to its own security interests and a violation of the fragile peace in the region.
The US and Japan, in a joint statement, have defended the deployment, stating that it is a necessary step to enhance their “deterrent against armed attacks” as the security environment around Japan “becomes increasingly severe.” They have consistently affirmed their commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and have previously voiced concerns over China’s growing military assertiveness, particularly in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has pushed back on this justification. Lin Jian warned that the US’s deployment of the Typhon system in Asian countries “undermines the legitimate security interests of other countries, fuels the risk of a regional arms race and military confrontation, and poses a substantive threat to regional strategic security.” He urged both nations to “correct their wrongful practices” and act in a way that contributes to regional peace and stability.
The deployment of the Typhon system is the latest in a series of escalating military moves and diplomatic exchanges in the region. China has also previously expressed its opposition to the potential acquisition of the Typhon system by the Philippines and has criticized joint patrols in the South China Sea involving the US, Japan, and the Philippines. This latest move marks a further intensification of tensions and suggests that the military and strategic landscape in the Asia-Pacific is becoming increasingly complex and volatile.
Key Headline Points:
* Missile Deployment Protested: China’s Foreign Ministry urges the US and Japan to withdraw the Typhon missile system.
* Threat to Strategic Security: Beijing warns that the deployment poses a “substantive threat” and could escalate an arms race.
* First Time in Japan: The Typhon system was unveiled in Japan for the first time during the joint “Resolute Dragon” military exercises.
* Tit-for-Tat Actions: The deployment is the latest in a series of military moves between the US and its allies and China.
* Regional Tensions: China has previously voiced concerns about US-led military cooperation and patrols in the South China Sea.
