U.S. Displays New Typhon Missile System in Japan

Sept. 20—The U.S. Army displayed its Typhon mid-range missile system in Japan on Sept. 15. Typhon was featured during the annual bilateral exercise Resolute Dragon with more than 19,000 U.S. and Japanese troops participating. The exercise focuses on maritime defense and littoral protection and is held across Japan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The Typhon system, which can be loaded with both the Standard Missile-6, with a range of up to 500 km, and the Tomahawk cruise missile, with a range exceeding 2,000 km, was delivered last month to the U.S. Marine Corps Base in Iwakuni, in southwestern Japan. Its exhibition in Japan follows its deployment in the Philippines last year, triggering criticisms from China and Russia.

In response to the deployment, Beijing has called on the U.S. and Japan to withdraw the Typhon systems. “In disregard of China’s grave concern, the U.S. and Japan went ahead with the deployment of the Typhon medium-range missile system in Japan under the pretext of joint military exercise. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the move,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during his Sept. 16 briefing.“The U.S.’s deployment of the Typhon medium-range missile system in Asian countries undermines the legitimate security interests of other countries, fuels the risk of regional arms race and military confrontation and poses a substantial threat to regional strategic security. The U.S. and Japan need to earnestly respect other countries’ security concerns and play a positive role for regional peace and stability, not the other way around. China urges the U.S. and Japan to heed the call from regional countries, correct the wrongful move and pull out the Typhon missile system as soon as possible.”