U.S. and Philippine security officials have agreed to station a medium-range missile system in the northern Philippines indefinitely.
This is reported by the Associated Press with reference to two Philippine officials.
As specified, representatives of the US authorities have not yet commented on the situation.
The US Armed Forces in April deployed a medium-range missile system MRC Typhon in the Philippines as part of joint exercises between the two countries. It is noted that the complex can launch Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk missiles, which can cover a distance of more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km). Thus, China falls within their kill zone.
The article said officials are considering keeping the missile system in the northern Philippines until April next year.
Chinese diplomats have repeatedly expressed their alarm to the Philippine government, warning that the deployment of the missile system could destabilise the situation in the region.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow would take all necessary material measures in the military field to create counter-balances if US medium-range and shorter-range missiles are not relocated from the Philippines back to the United States.