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By Lilith Foster-Collins
News Reporter
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A Philippine military chief has said he wants the U.S. Typhon missile system to remain in the country "forever."
Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said he asked U.S. military officials to keep the missile system in Philippine territory.
China has repeatedly raised alarm over the missile system, warning that the deployment of the missiles could destabilize the region.
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"If I were given the choice, I would like to have the Typhon here in the Philippines forever because we need it for our defense," Brawner told reporters.
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On Wednesday, two Philippine Officials said that the U.S. midrange missile system in the northern Philippines will remain indefinitely to boost deterrence.
The two officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive U.S. missile deployment publicly.
There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials.
In April, the U.S. Army deployed the Typhon missile system to northern Philippines as part of joint combat exercises with local forces and to test how deployable the system is when aboard an Air Force aircraft.
The Typhon system is capable of launching Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and has a range of over 1,000 miles, making China a potential target within its reach.
Officials are considering extending the system's stay in the Philippines until at least April next year, coinciding with the annual Balikatan ("shoulder-to-shoulder") exercises between the U.S. and Philippine forces.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. refused to confirm or deny the extension.
Teodoro spoke to reporters Tuesday on the sidelines of an Asian defense industry exhibition in Manila, where he accused of China interfering in the affairs of the Philippines.
"China is saying that they are alarmed but that is interference into our internal affairs."
"They are using reverse psychology in order to deter us from building up our defensive capabilities," Teodoro said.
"Before they start talking, why don't they lead by example? Destroy their nuclear arsenal, remove all their ballistic missile capabilities, get out of the West Philippines Sea and get out of Mischief Reef," Teodoro said.
"I mean, don't throw stones when you live in a glass house."
Following the announcement of plans to place the midrange capability in the Asia-Pacific, China criticized the U.S., accusing it of "undermining peace and stability in the region."
Last month, photos showing the U.S. Air Force's 62nd Airlift Wing hosting a delegation from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state prompted speculation that the platform could also be deployed in Japan.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said earlier this month at a defense conference that the Army had expressed interest in having the Multi-Domain Task Force, which hosts the Typhoon, "operate out of Japan." She stressed that any such move would "go at the pace of the Japanese government."
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, responded last week to the potential deployment by stating that Washington is "hell-bent on advancing military deployment in the Asia-Pacific to pursue absolute military advantages" and warned it would further inflame an arms race in the region.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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