In a significant move underscoring escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. military has for the first time deployed its mid-range Typhon missile system to a military base in Japan. This deployment serves as a potent message to China, whose increasing assertiveness and territorial claims in the region have become a major concern for the United States and its allies.
The Typhon system, a ground-based launcher capable of firing both the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) and Tomahawk cruise missiles, arrived last month at the U.S. Marine Corps base in Iwakuni, southwestern Japan. Its strategic placement allows for the targeting of objectives along China’s eastern coast, significantly extending the reach of U.S. military power in the Western Pacific. This action is a clear reflection of the U.S. strategy to bolster its military posture and reassure allies like Japan and the Philippines, who frequently find themselves at odds with Beijing over disputed territories such as the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
The deployment in Japan is not an isolated incident. It follows a similar, albeit highly criticized, deployment of the Typhon system in the Philippines in April 2024. These moves are part of a broader U.S. effort to counter China’s growing military capabilities and its increasingly aggressive posture, particularly with an eye towards deterring a potential invasion of Taiwan. Japan, itself facing missile and nuclear threats from China, North Korea, and Russia, is simultaneously accelerating its own military modernization, acquiring advanced long-range missiles to enhance its defense capabilities.
Colonel Wade German, commander of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force, emphasized the Typhon system’s strategic value. “It can utilize multiple systems and multiple types of ammunition, which can put the enemy in a difficult position,” German stated, highlighting its versatility and rapid deployment capabilities. These attributes allow for swift positioning, providing a flexible deterrent in a dynamic security environment.
The Typhon system’s inclusion in the annual Resolute Dragon military exercise, involving over 19,000 U.S. and Japanese troops, further demonstrates its integration into regional defense strategies. While Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the system would not be live-fired during the current exercise and its deployment at Iwakuni is temporary, its very presence is a stark display of American military commitment and capability in response to China’s frequent shows of force, including military exercises and naval patrols.
The increased presence of Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in the Pacific has also prompted the U.S. and Japan to bolster their maritime law enforcement capabilities. Both nations are investing in new patrol vessels, with the U.S. Coast Guard signing a significant contract for 10 new fast-response boats, and Japan launching a new 3,500-ton coast guard vessel, the Hiroshima. These developments collectively signal a robust and concerted effort by the U.S. and its allies to maintain stability and deter aggression in a strategically vital region.
