Source: Global Times

[Global Times special correspondent Chenyang Global Times reporter Liu Yang] The deployment location of the U.S. land-based intermediate-range missile system is getting closer and closer to China. According to Reuters, in an upcoming US-Japan joint exercise in September, the US military will "temporarily" deploy the "Typhon" land-based intermediate-range missile system to Japan. Chinese experts interviewed by the Global Times reporter said that the first deployment of the "Typhon" intermediate-range missile system by the United States to Japan deserves vigilance. Previously, the US military had "temporarily" deployed the system to the Philippines in the name of exercises, and then broke its promise and turned it into a "long-term deployment." The U.S. military may be trying to repeat the same trick this time.

Not just "sea blockade"

Japanese and US officials said that during the joint US-Japan exercise, which will be held from September 11 to 25, the US would "temporarily" deploy the Dyfeng land-based intermediate missile system in Japan. A spokesperson for Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force said the system would be deployed to the US Iwakuni base in Japan, about 890km west of Tokyo, to enhance the deterrence, response and comprehensive combat capabilities of the Japan-US alliance. It was unclear whether the missile system would be launched live as part of the exercise.

According to reports, the "Difeng" system is a new land-based intermediate-range missile system urgently developed by the US military after withdrawing from the INF Treaty. The purpose is to fill the gap between the US military's land-based tactical missiles and intercontinental missiles, and to counter "China's increasingly powerful intermediate-range missile arsenal". According to reports, the "Difeng" system is part of the US plan to stockpile various anti-ship weapons in Asia. The "Tomahawk" cruise missile in the launcher can hit Chinese targets from the Philippines, while the "Standard-6" missile can hit air or sea targets 200 kilometers away.

Data picture of the launch of the Tifong missile system (Source: US Army)

Chinese experts interviewed by the Global Times reporter said that these statements by foreign media downplayed the aggressiveness of the "Typhon" system. This system essentially changes the U.S. Navy's MK41 vertical launch system to land-based launch. It can be transported mobile by a large trailer and can launch "Standard-6" and "Tomahawk" cruise missiles to attack various targets within a range of 500 to 2,000 kilometers. Foreign media emphasized the anti-ship combat capability of the "Standard-6" missile, but did not mention the threat of the "Tomahawk" cruise missile. The latter is a typical medium-range missile with a longest combat distance of more than 2,000 kilometers. It was originally one of the iconic offensive weapons of the US military during the Cold War. According to western media, when the missile is deployed in the Philippines, the threat range is enough to cover the southeast coast of China, while if the missile is deployed in Japan, the threat range is even greater.

More cautiously, the MK41 vertical system can accommodate multiple advanced missiles in the U.S. Army's current service and development, so the future "Thypoon" system is likely to have more powerful attack capabilities by replacing the missile model relatively simply.

They will also deploy anti-ship missiles.

It is an annual bilateral joint exercise between the U.S. Navy Corps and the Japanese Self-Defense Force, originally held in Hokkaido and the northeastern part of the Japanese island, and then gradually moved to Kyushu Island and the southwestern islands of Okinawa, targeting is increasingly prominent. Last year's series of exercises include Kyushu, Okinawa, Japan, etc. The exercise includes the deployment of AN / TPS-80 ground / air-oriented radar missions with the Japanese island, the use of MV-22 "Fish Eagle" turboprop aircraft for personnel transportation, medical and logistics supply, and practical shooting training in several locations.

Japan¡¯s NHK television that the areas of this year¡¯s exercises include the Kyushu island area (especially Okinawa County), Hokkaido and Sulphur Island, ¡°aiming to strengthen the defense capabilities of the US-Japanese coalition, defending Japan¡¯s remote islands.¡±

NHK noted that during the exercise, the U.S. Navy/Marine Expeditionary Missile Interceptor System (NMESIS) will also be deployed at the Okinawa Island base. The U.S. Navy¡¯s unmanned anti-ship weapons system is the latest anti-ship combat equipment, using the unmanned joint lightweight tactical vehicle base, each launch vehicle can carry two U.S. and Norwegian jointly developed anti-ship missiles (NMESIS). The U.S. Defense Post emphasizes that the anti-ship missile is a lightweight design and can be transported by C-130 transport aircraft, helicopters and multiple ships. The NSM missiles have good hidden performance, strong defense capabilities, and are able to combat offshore thre

US Marine Corps NMESIS anti-ship missile system (Source: US Marine Corps)

Strongly opposed by China and Russia

As Reuters noted, the development and deployment of the U.S. Army's "Tibong" system itself is full of strategic intentions against China and Russia. During the joint military exercise "Shield" of the U.S. Army in April 2024, the U.S. Army's First Multi-Domain Special Forces used the C-17 strategic transport aircraft across 8,000 miles, deploying the first set of "Tibong" medium-range missile systems to the Philippines. This was the first U.S. land-based launching system in the region after the Cold War. As originally planned, the system should be operated in September 2024 or earlier, but the U.S. Army subsequently "spoke" and announced the long-term deployment of the system in the Philippines, and openly

Qatar al-Jazeera noted that China and Russia's foreign ministries once again expressed strong opposition after it was reported that the US military would deploy the "Typhon" medium guidance system in Japan "temporarily" during the US-Japan exercise in September. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova said recently: "We believe this is another destabilizing move by Washington to upgrade land-based intermediate-range missiles." "The deployment of the 'Typhon' system near Russia poses a direct strategic threat to Russia." She also said that Russia has noticed Japan's "accelerated militarization" and cooperation with the United States."If Japan does not reconsider its decision to deploy the 'Tifeng' system, Russia will have to take appropriate military technical measures."

China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded to relevant questions (Source: Data Map)

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jianquan said on August 29 that China has repeatedly expressed serious concerns about related issues. China has consistently resolutely opposed the U.S. deployment of the "Type" in Asian countries. The deployment of the "Type" in Japan will further harm the legitimate security interests of other countries, and constitute a substantial threat to regional strategic security. The U.S. and Japanese side should earnestly respect the security concerns of other countries, and should not introduce the "Type" system, and play a positive role in practical actions for regional peace and stability. Guo Jianquan said that due to the history of militarist aggression, Japan's military security trends have been highly concerned by Asian neighbors and the international community. This

Experts interviewed by the Global Times also reminded that a complete set of "Tippon" systems included four missile launchers, a command control vehicle and accompanied missile chargers, hangers, power support vehicles, etc. They can use the C-17 strategic transport aircraft to deploy a wide range of rapid deployments, with strong battlefield mobility. Because of this, the U.S. military is frequently adopting temporary or long-term deployments, looking for a suitable location for the deployment of the system in the first island chain countries such as Japan, the Philippines. In the future, even if it is forced by external pressure to evacuate it, but there is a need for the transport aircraft to quickly re-deploy it to the battlefield, so even temporary deployments, the real intention of the