By Yu Lan

The US plans to "temporarily" deploy the Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system in Japan during the joint US-Japan exercises scheduled for mid-September. Previously, the US military had similarly deployed the system to the Philippines under the guise of exercises, but instead of withdrawing it afterward, the system remained there for an extended period. By repeating this tactic in Japan, what is the US aiming to achieve?

It is learned that the exercises were originally scheduled to take place in Hokkaido and the northeastern part of Honshu, but were later shifted toward Kyushu and Okinawa. This year, approximately 12,000 members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and 1,900 US military personnel are expected to participate. Military observer Zhang Xuefeng believes that the offensive nature and targeted focus of this year's US-Japan joint exercises have increased significantly compared with previous years, bringing more uncertainty to regional peace and stability.

The Typhon MRC missile system can launch both Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of striking a wide range of targets within 500 to 2,000 kilometers. It is a new land-based medium-range missile system developed urgently by the US military after withdrawing from the INF Treaty, aiming to fill the firepower gap between US land-based tactical missiles and intercontinental missiles.

The US military deployed the first Typhon MRC missile system in the Philippines under the pretext of exercises in April 2024. The system was initially scheduled to be withdrawn before September that year, but the plan was ultimately broken, and the US announced that the system would be stationed in the Philippines permanently, openly declaring it as crucial to the US Army's so-called Indo-Pacific strategy.

Zhang Xuefeng noted that the US Marine Corps claims the US Navy plans to use relatively small forces to defend the maritime chokepoints in the Pacific. In reality, this so-called defense of chokepoints is intended to block certain sea lanes within the First Island Chain. Currently, the US has already deployed a Typhon battery in the Philippines, and it now plans to "temporarily" deploy the system to Japan under the guise of joint exercises. It is imperative to maintain strategic vigilance, as the US often uses short-term deployments to test the waters, gradually turning "temporary" postings into long-term ones. Japan mistakenly believes that the more numerous and advanced the missiles the US deploys on its soil, the greater its deterrence and security. In reality, this sense of security is illusory, as the US is effectively designating parts of Japanese territory as potential future battlefields. Should the US normalize the deployment of the Typhon MRC missile system in Japan for offensive purposes against other countries, it would only invite conflict onto Japanese soil.

Regarding the US plan to deploy the Typhon MRC missile system in Japan, relevant countries have voiced strong opposition. According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the deployment of the Typhon MRC missile system in Japan will further undermine the legitimate security interests of other countries and pose a substantive threat to regional strategic security. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that this represents yet another destabilizing step by the US.

Zhang Xuefeng believes that the US and Japan should genuinely address the security concerns of regional countries, and any attempt to seek strategic dominance through military equipment deployment is nothing but a dangerous illusion.

Editor's Note: Originally published on military.cnr.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.