Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed strong dissatisfaction during a press briefing on Tuesday, condemning the move despite China's grave concerns.
The Typhon intermediate-range missile system was unveiled at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan as part of the annual Resolute Dragon military exercise. Running from September 11-25, 2025, this year's exercise involves approximately 19,000 personnel from both US and Japanese forces. The ground-based system can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles with ranges up to 1,600 kilometers, capable of targeting China's eastern coastline and parts of Russia.
Lin Jian criticized the deployment, stating that the US and Japan proceeded "under the pretext of joint exercises" despite China's objections. He emphasized that such deployments undermine legitimate security interests of other countries and heighten risks of regional arms race and military confrontation.
The timing is particularly sensitive as China's newest aircraft carrier Fujian was recently spotted in the East China Sea for the first time, raising Tokyo's security concerns. The 80,000-ton carrier was observed sailing through the Taiwan Strait toward the South China Sea for training missions.
This marks the second regional deployment of the Typhon system, following its controversial stationing in the Philippines in April 2024. Colonel Wade Germann, commanding the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force, described the system's rapid deployment capabilities as creating "dilemmas for adversaries".
The deployment reinforces the US-Japan alliance's deterrence strategy amid growing tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and disputed territories in the region.
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