China is concerned about the US deploying the Typhon missile system in the Western Pacific

China is concerned that the Typhon medium-range missile system was deployed during joint US-Philippine exercises.

Here's What We Know

Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said on Friday that his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had raised concerns about the missile system during their talks on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Laos last month.

Manalo said that while he and Yi discussed the situation, "they made it very dramatic," but he assured Yi that he should not worry. Manalo explained that China's biggest concern is that the system could destabilise security and relations in the region, which he disagrees with. He added that the deployment in the Philippines was only temporary.

Typhon was first deployed to the Philippines in April as part of a joint US-Philippine exercise. The system is ground-based and versatile, and it is capable of launching both the standard SM-6s and the Tomahawk Land Attack missile.

Interestingly, China has also accused US allies such as the Philippines of serving US interests to the detriment of their own.

"The Philippines invites wolves into the house and willingly acts as their pawn," said a Chinese defence ministry spokesperson.

Source: Business Insider