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Philippines says to acquire US Typhon missile system

By AFP
December 24, 2024
American and Filipino soldiers pose in front of the US Typhoon missile during an orientation on the operations of the said system. —Philippine Army/File
American and Filipino soldiers pose in front of the US Typhoon missile during an orientation on the operations of the said system. —Philippine Army/File

MANILA: The Philippines said on Monday it planned to acquire the US Typhon missile system as part of a push to secure its maritime interests, sparking warnings from China of a regional “arms race”.

The US Army deployed the mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines earlier this year for annual joint military exercises with its longtime ally, and decided to leave it there despite criticism by Beijing that it was destabilising to Asia.

Philippine Army chief Lieutenant-General Roy Galido told a news conference on Monday that the missile system would be “acquired because we see its feasibility and its functionality in our concept of archipelagic defence implementation”.