The United States has expressed interest in deploying a system of intermediate-range missiles to Japan for joint military exercises, US Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said. This decision is likely to cause dissatisfaction on the part of China – The Japan Times
According to Wormuth, the possible deployment of the U.S. Army’s Multidisciplinary Task Force, which includes the Typhon medium-range missile system, was discussed during her visit to Japan in August. She noted that the United States is interested in this unit participating in exercises in Japan, but that it will depend on the pace set by the Japanese government.
The Typhon system, which is capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 1,600 kilometers and SM-6 missiles, was first deployed to the Indo-Pacific region in April for joint exercises in the northern Philippines. This mission is due to end soon.
The deployment was the first time the United States has deployed intermediate-range ground-based missiles abroad since the Donald Trump administration withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. The treaty, signed in 1987, banned the use of ground-based missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers, both conventional and nuclear.
Japan has repeatedly denied reports of the possibility of deploying such US weapons on its territory. Observers note that this could cause public concern, as such deployments would make the facilities potential targets for Chinese missiles.
According to the latest Pentagon data, China has about 1,850 missiles with a range of 1,000 to 5,500 km.
Nevertheless, supporters believe that the deployment of such systems will help deter China, especially in the area of Japan’s southwestern islands near Taiwan, where Beijing is increasing its military activity. Tomahawk missiles deployed on remote islands could threaten parts of Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the Chinese mainland.
China strongly opposes such a deployment in the Indo-Pacific, arguing that it would increase the risk of misjudgments and conflicts, as the weapons would be “right next to China’s borders.”
Despite official denials, there are signs that Tokyo may be considering deploying U.S. missiles.
Last month, Lt. Gen. Kazuo Sakai, chief of staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces, visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, home to the U.S. 1st Multi-Domain Task Force. In the photos posted on the base’s official Facebook page, Sakai and members of his delegation are pictured with the U.S. military in front of the base’s second Typhon battery.
Last year, the US Army announced that it had conducted several successful tests of the Typhon system, which has four mobile launchers and other support equipment armed with Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles. The system, equipped with SM-6 missiles, which are the only effective means of protecting the United States from hypersonic maneuverable missiles, can also be used for defense purposes.
