Russia and China have separately warned Tokyo over allowing the US to deploy the Typhoon medium-range missile during joint military exercises in Japan next month. The two countries have described the move as a threat to regional stability.
“We see this as another destabilizing step. This is part of Washington’s ongoing efforts to increase its ground-launched short- and medium-range missiles,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.
Zakharova added that the deployment of Typhoon missiles in Japan or near Russia posed a direct strategic threat to Moscow. In comments published by Russian state news agency TASS, Zakharova said Moscow was noticing Japan’s rapid militarization and increased cooperation with the United States.
The deployment of Typhoon missiles in Japan or near Russia poses a direct strategic threat to Moscow. Moscow sees Japan’s rapid militarization and increased cooperation with the United States.
Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
The Russian spokesperson warned that if Japan does not change its decision to deploy Typhoon missiles, Russia will be forced to take “appropriate military-technical measures.” She added that Japan will bear full responsibility if the situation in the region worsens.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the same day that the United States and Japan should contribute to regional peace and stability, not undermine it, even if it is by temporarily deploying missiles.
Russia warned that if Japan does not change its decision to deploy Typhoon missiles, Moscow will be forced to take “appropriate military-technical measures.” She added that Japan will bear full responsibility if the situation in the region worsens.
“We always oppose the deployment of the US Typhoon intermediate-range missile in any Asian country,” Guo said, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.
The Chinese spokesman added, “We call on Japan to learn from its history of aggression, adhere to the path of peaceful development, be vigilant in military and security matters, and refrain from further eroding the trust of Asian neighbors and the international community.”
The US and Japan should contribute to regional peace and stability, not undermine it, even if it is through temporary deployment of missiles.
Guo Jiaqun, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry
Guo also called on the US to learn from the past and spend more effort and resources on the right things instead of going the other way.
The Typhoon system is essentially part of Washington’s plan to deploy various types of anti-ship weapons in Asia, according to the Reuters news agency.
China reacted strongly when the missile was first deployed in the Philippines in 2024 during a military training exercise. Manila then announced that it would buy the US land-based missile system. The missile has a range of about 480 kilometers (300 miles). However, a longer-range version is also being developed.
A spokesman for Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force told Reuters that the Typhoon missiles will be stationed at the US Marine Air Base in Iwakuni on Honshu island, about 890 kilometers (553 miles) west of Tokyo.
China reacted strongly when the missile was first deployed in the Philippines in 2024 during a military training exercise. Manila then announced that it would buy the US land-based missile system. The missile has a range of about 480 kilometers (300 miles). However, a longer-range version is also being developed.
However, it is not clear whether Typhoon missiles will be fired during the ‘Resolute Dragon’ exercise between the US and Japanese militaries, which will take place from September 11 to 25.
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