NSC: No Phl commitment to pull out Typhon missile launcher

The Philippines did not make any commitment to China about the withdrawal of United States-made midrange capability (MRC) missile systems from the country, National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said Friday.

“Wala naman kaming sinasabing ganun whether in private or in public so we are just wondering kung saan nanggaling itong alleged commitment from the Philippine government (We didn't say anything like that, whether in private or public, so we're just curious about where this alleged commitment from the Philippine government came from),” Malaya told reporters in a press conference in Manila.

China has been demanding the removal of the MRC, also known as the Typhon missile launcher, from the Philippines, stating the deployment of the military in the Philippines “induced an arms race and provokes instability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Malaya said China might have been pertaining to the previous remarks of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., where he offered a deal to pull out the missile system if Beijing would stop its incursions, harassment of Filipino fishermen, and illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea.

“If the presence of the Typhon missile system is such a bother, the President has made a formal offer through media, which unfortunately we have not received a proper response as of now,” Malaya added.

Malaya said China’s narratives presented as if the Philippine government committed to them.

“Repeatedly they have mentioned that we have reached such a commitment. So it was made to appear that the Philippine government made a commitment to them,” he noted.

Malaya stressed, “The Philippines never promised the People's Republic of China that we would withdraw the Typhon missile system in the Philippines. We never made any commitment to the PRC in this regard.”

“It would be improper for Beijing to make a statement that there was a clear commitment.”

This ground-based missile system is a Lockheed Martin design that takes the naval Mk.41 vertical launch system and modifies it for land-based operations, as well as being capable of firing Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles.

It has since been deployed in the country as part of the Philippines-US military training, including the recently concluded Balikatan Exercise.

The missile system was also utilized as training equipment during the first phase of the ‘Salaknib’ Exercise in September last year.

The Philippine Army said they will be conducting another leg of familiarization training on the use of the Typhon weapon system in February this year.

Malaya said the missile system was deployed in the Philippines “primarily for readiness and enhancing interoperability” among troops.

“Because we have a mutual defense treaty with the US and the Philippines troops have to be familiar with the weapon systems of our partners and allies,” he added.

Marcos previously criticized China for commenting on the Philippines’ initiatives to enhance its defense capabilities.