フィリピン軍、米ミサイルシステム「タイフォン」取得へ 中国反発

【マニラＡＦＰ＝時事】フィリピン軍は２３日、自国の海洋権益を守るためとして、米軍の中距離ミサイル発射システム（ＭＲＣ）「タイフォン」を取得する計画を発表した。（写真はフィリピンのルソン島で合同演習を行うフィリピン軍と米海兵隊）
　米陸軍は今年、合同軍事演習のためにフィリピン北部にＭＲＣタイフォンを展開。中国からアジアの安定を損なうと批判を受けながらも、そのまま残留させた。以降、同ミサイルシステムはフィリピン軍の訓練に使用されている。
　フィリピン北部への米ミサイルシステムの配備は、南シナ海の紛争海域でフィリピンとの対立をエスカレートさせている中国の海軍および海警局を激怒させている。
　取得計画の発表を受け、中国外務省の毛寧報道官は「フィリピンによる中距離ミサイルシステムの導入は挑発的で危険な行動」とし、「地政学的対立と軍拡競争を引き起こす」と警告した。
　そうした中、フィリピン陸軍のロイ・ガリド中将は会見でタイフォン取得計画を発表。取得するシステムの総数は「経済的状況」に依存すると述べた。
　ただし、フィリピン軍が新たな兵器システムを取得するには通常、計画段階から少なくとも２年以上かかるとし、２０２５年の予算にはまだ計上されていないと付け加えた。
　米航空防衛機器大手ロッキード・マーチンが米陸軍向けに開発した、地上配備型ＭＲＣのタイフォンの射程距離は４８０キロ。現在、長距離版の開発が進められている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/12/23-17:31）

The Philippine military said Monday it plans to acquire the US Typhon missile system to protect its maritime interests, some of which overlap with regional power China.
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, and decided to leave it there despite criticism by Beijing that it was destabilising to Asia.
Since then, it has been used by Philippine forces to train for its operation.
It is planned to be acquired because we see its feasibility and its functionality in our concept of archipelagic defence implementation, Philippine Army chief Lieutenant-General Roy Galido told a news conference.
I'm happy to report to our fellow countrymen that your army is developing this capability for the interest of protecting our sovereignty, he said, adding the total number to be acquired would depend on economics.
The presence of the US missile launcher in the northern Philippine had angered Beijing, whose navy and coast guard forces have engaged in escalating confrontations in recent months with the Philippines over disputed reefs and waters in the South China Sea.
Beijing swiftly condemned the decision to acquire the system as a provocative and dangerous move and warned it risked triggering an arms race.
It is an extremely irresponsible choice for the history of its own people and the people of Southeast Asia, as well as for regional security, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Monday.
The region needs peace and prosperity, not missiles and confrontation, she added.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
As a rule, it takes at least two or more years for the Philippine military to acquire a new weapons system from the planning stage, Galido said, adding it was not yet budgeted for 2025.
It took five years for Manila to take delivery of the BrahMos cruise missile last year, he added.
- 'Project force' -
The land-based mid-range capability Typhon missile launcher, developed by US firm Lockheed Martin for the US Army, has a range of 300 miles (480 kilometres), though a longer-range version is in development.
Galido said the Typhon system would enable the army to project force outwards up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres), which is the limit of the archipelago nation's maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
You have to take note of the fact that at 200 nautical miles there is no land there and the army cannot go there, he said.
We need to contribute to this (defence of Philippine interests) by having this platform to be able to assist the primary major service that would focus on maritime and air domain, Galido added.
Under that scenario, the Typhon platform will protect our floating assets, he said, a reference to ships of the Philippine navy, coast guard and other vessels.
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun warned in June that the Typhon deployment was severely damaging regional security and stability.
Galido dismissed the criticism against the Typhon system in the Philippines.
We should not be bothered by others' seeming insecurities because we don't have any plans to go outside of our country's interests, he said.