The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that the repositioning of the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system, also called Typhon, is being done in close coordination between the Philippine and US governments.
“The primary objective of this deployment is to strengthen Philippine military readiness, improve our familiarization and interoperability with advanced weapon systems, and support regional security.” AFP spokesperson Col. Margareth Padilla said in a statement on Friday
Her statement came a day after the AFP confirmed the relocation of Typhon launchers to an undisclosed location within the country, and five days after alleged Chinese spies were arrested for conducting “mapping” operations on local military sites.
Padilla also said, “[t]here is no single entity who can dictate how we would do our deployments in terms of our defenses,” reacting to the remarks of China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who reiterated Beijing’s opposition to the presence of the Typhon missile system in the Philippines.
“It’s an inherent right of every state to heighten and strengthen their defenses accordingly. How we would go about it is for us to freely do,” she emphasized.
The redeployment also coincided with the visit of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. in Washington where he met with United States National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to discuss the future of their countries’ alliance amid a change in America’s leadership.
The top-level meeting took place at the White House on Thursday [Philippine time], two days after President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office.
Teodoro extended the Philippines’ congratulations to the US on a successful transition of leadership, emphasizing the shared commitment to peace, stability, and mutual security interests in the region, the Department of National Defense (DND) disclosed in a statement Friday.
He highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral defense ties in addressing emerging geopolitical challenges.
NSA Waltz also expressed his appreciation of President Marcos’ efforts to uphold freedom of navigation and a rules-based international order, it was also stated.
Teodoro also met with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Alex Wong, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Byers, and US National Security Council Senior Director for Asia Ivan Kanapathy.
Waltz and his team underscored the need to enhance cooperation with the Philippines and looked forward to increasing mutual security activities in support of a free and global Indo-Pacific, an initiative dating back to Trump’s first presidency.
This engagement marked a significant step in further advancing the decades-long alliance between the Philippines and the United States, signaling a renewed commitment to collaboration under the Trump administration.
Both sides expressed optimism about deepening defense and security cooperation in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed the assurance from newly appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the United States, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, will maintain its “ironclad” commitment to the Philippines.
He said Secretary Rubio’s statement, made during his first call with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Thursday, underscores the strength of the US-Philippine alliance, a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
“Secretary Rubio’s affirmation clearly demonstrates the United States’ enduring commitment to our partnership. This reassurance comes at a crucial time when our shared values and mutual interests face serious challenges in the region,” Romualdez said.