US Considers Deploying Midrange Missiles in Japan 

In early September, US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth indicated interest in deploying a midrange missile system to Japan for joint military exercises. 

During a Virginia event, Wormuth revealed that she visited Japan in August and discussed deploying the Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force, which includes the Mid-Range Capability missile system, also known as Typhon.

This interest in deployment follows the Typhon’s first deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, which has already sparked strong reactions from Russia and China. 

In April, the US Army had deployed the Typhon launcher—capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles with a 1,600-kilometer range and SM-6 missiles—into the region for joint exercises in the northern Philippines. This deployment is scheduled to conclude later this month. 

In fact, the Philippines has already shown interest in acquiring the Typhon missile launcher as part of its strategy to enhance its defense capabilities, a move that has infuriated China.

Meanwhile, Japan has consistently denied media reports suggesting that the US might deploy similar systems in the country. Experts believe that deploying such weapons in Japan would make the sites potential targets for China’s extensive missile arsenal, making public acceptance challenging. 

However, despite Japan’s denials, there are signs that Tokyo might be contemplating the deployment. Lt. Gen. Kazuo Sakai, chief of staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Ground Component Command, visited the US military’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state in early August.  

At the time, the base’s official Facebook page shared photos featuring Sakai and his delegation posing with US personnel in front of a second Typhon battery located at the site. 

On the other hand, China, along with Russia, has strongly opposed any such missile deployments to the Indo-Pacific region. Beijing says that such a move would place powerful weapons near its borders, increasing the risk of misjudgment and potential conflict.  

Yet, proponents of the Typhon deployment argue that it could serve as a deterrent to China, especially around Japan’s southwestern islands near Taiwan, where Chinese military activities have been escalating.