The Philippines said Monday it planned to acquire the US Typhon missile system as part of a push to secure its maritime interests, sparking warnings from China of a regional “arms race”. The US Army deployed the mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines earlier this year for annual joint military exercises with its longtime ally,

The deal also underscores the deepening U.S.-Philippines alliance, rooted in the Mutual Defense Treaty and bolstered by enhanced military cooperation through initiatives like the EDCA and Balikatan exercises.

The Philippines' defence minister on Tuesday justified the country's deployment of a U.S. medium-range missile system and plans to acquire its own, despite opposition from China, a longstanding rival in the South China Sea.