Typhon missile system: Philippines strengthens stance on South China Sea
The announcement of the Philippines’ plans to acquire the US’s Typhon missile system reflects Manila’s resolve to defend its territorial waters amid escalating tensions with Beijing, say Philippines-based analyst Don McLain Gill and Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.
The Philippines’ defence priorities have shifted significantly in response to China’s heightened presence in the South China Sea.
On 23 December last year, the Philippine Army announced its plans to acquire the Typhon missile system — a US-made advanced Mid-Range Capability missile launcher. This move is aimed at strengthening and defending the nation’s maritime security in the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The WPS is what Manila calls the part of the South China Sea encompassing its 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The announcement drew immediate condemnation from Beijing, which claims rights across all the waters encompassed by its nine-dash line, covering a large part of the South China Sea. On 28 December, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Beijing would “not sit on its hands” if it felt that its security and interests would be “under threat”. Interestingly, this was the third statement released by the Chinese government on this specific issue in less than a week.
Despite the backlash, the announcement of the acquisition reflects Manila’s resolve to defend its territorial waters amid escalating tensions with Beijing and Chinese expansionist ambitions.
China’s actions and Manila’s response
For the past two years, China’s Coast Guard, People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and maritime militia have increased their presence in the WPS. Their actions have escalated tensions, especially since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in June 2022.
While China’s maritime claims have long been a point of contention, these aggressive actions have become more frequent under the current administration, which has adopted a more assertive stance in defending Philippine waters based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling.
In contrast to Beijing’s accusations of stoking instability by triggering an arms race, the Philippines is simply asserting its lawful rights over its EEZ.
Yet tensions between the two countries are not new. Even during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, who sought to appease Beijing for economic benefits, China continued to engage in provocative actions. In 2017, China formed a “blockade” at Sandy Cay, 1.5 nautical miles northwest of Thitu Island. Two years later, Chinese forces rammed and destroyed a Filipino fishing boat, leaving its crew stranded. More recently, from 2021 to 2022, China swarmed key features like Whitsun Reef in the WPS with hundreds of fishing vessels possibly linked to its paramilitary forces. These actions highlight challenges in the relationship, particularly regarding differing interpretations of maritime claims and sovereignty in the region.
Marcos Jr’s shift: a clear stand against China’s actions
What sets Marcos Jr apart from his predecessor is his swift recognition of China’s expansionist ambitions. Under Duterte, China was allowed to make inroads in the region. However, Marcos Jr has taken a firmer approach, especially in response to China’s ongoing actions that the Philippines views as violations of international law. This shift is not merely a reaction to China’s actions but a calculated effort to defend Philippine sovereignty in a changing global security environment.
Some attempts at diplomacy have been made. Notably, Marcos Jr’s first overseas trip in 2023 was to Beijing where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping. This visit demonstrated an effort to manage tensions and seek opportunities for cooperation.
However, China’s provocative actions have persisted. Shortly after the high-level meeting between the two leaders, the Chinese Coast Guard deployed military-grade lasers and fired water cannons at and even rammed Filipino vessels. These actions only served to underline the inherent instability in the region as China pushes its maritime claims.
As a responsible sovereign nation, Manila has sought to prioritise the defence of its territory and adjacent waters. In contrast to Beijing’s accusations of stoking instability by triggering an arms race, the Philippines is simply asserting its lawful rights over its EEZ.
It is not the Philippines, but China, that is attempting to control the waters and resources that fall under another nation’s lawful EEZ, refusing to bring its claims into accordance with international law. China’s militarisation of features in the WPS, turning them into offshore military bases with offensive capabilities, further underscores its increasingly aggressive stance.
China’s narrative of instability misleading
Beijing asserts that the Philippines is aligning with the US in a regional power struggle amid US-China tensions. It attempts to portray Manila’s defensive measures as causing instability and accuses the Philippines of inciting an arms race in the region.
... the Philippines’ acquisition of advanced defence systems, such as the Typhon system, is a necessary step in ensuring its ability to protect its sovereign waters, not an escalation of tensions.
However, these claims are misleading. The challenges to regional peace and stability primarily stem from China’s activities in the South China Sea, which have destabilised the status quo and jeopardised the sovereignty of smaller nations, including the Philippines. By developing disputed reefs into militarised outposts, Beijing has raised concerns about violation of international law and the security of the Indo-Pacific region.
In this light, the Philippines’ acquisition of advanced defence systems, such as the Typhon system, is a necessary step in ensuring its ability to protect its sovereign waters, not an escalation of tensions.
The Philippines’ strategic partnerships and regional defence needs
In response to these challenges, the Philippines has chosen to strengthen its treaty alliance with Washington while positioning itself as an active stakeholder in the rules-based order of the Indo-Pacific’s maritime domain. This approach has led Manila to expand defence partnerships with like-minded nations, such as Japan, Australia, India, and various European countries.
The goal of these partnerships is to enhance the Philippines’ maritime security capabilities, aligning with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept (CADC). The CADC focuses on protecting the country’s territorial waters and EEZ, reflecting the Philippines’ commitment to safeguarding the rights of its people to access and utilise maritime resources.
Facing a significant power imbalance with China, the Philippines is prioritising the acquisition of advanced defence systems to protect its waters. This strategy, driven by limited resources, emphasises technological advantage over a direct naval buildup to match China’s fleet.
In this context, the acquisition of the Typhon defence system is a strategic and necessary step for securing the country’s maritime borders. This decision, following the 2022 acquisition of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, highlights the Philippines’ growing defence capabilities.
If Manila were to backtrack on its decision to acquire advanced defence systems due to Chinese pressure, it would undermine its sovereignty and send the wrong message to Beijing.
The Philippines must stand firm
While the Philippines continues to enhance its military capabilities, it must also be mindful of the broader geopolitical landscape.
China’s increasing dominance in the region is a challenge that cannot be countered solely through military means. The Philippines must continue to engage diplomatically with its allies and seek international support for its maritime claims. Furthermore, Manila must remain resolute in asserting its rights under international law, including the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s claims in the South China Sea.
The Philippines must be prepared to defend its maritime sovereignty and ensure the stability of the region. By investing in modern military capabilities, strengthening international partnerships, and asserting its rights under international law, the Philippines can secure its place in the region as a sovereign nation, unyielding to external pressures. If Manila were to backtrack on its decision to acquire advanced defence systems due to Chinese pressure, it would undermine its sovereignty and send the wrong message to Beijing.
The Philippines has to remain resolute in its position — not only for its own security but also for the broader stability of the region. The onus is now on Beijing to understand that the Philippines will not be intimidated or coerced into compromising its sovereignty.
