THE United States has no immediate plans to withdraw a mid-range missile system, capable of reaching China and deployed in the Philippines, amid tensions between the two powers.

Sources said that the US is testing the feasibility of the system’s use in a regional conflict, according to Reuters. Last year US Air Force General Mike Minihan predicted a Pacific war between the US and China would start in 2025.

The Typhon system was brought in for joint US-Philippines exercises earlier this year and has remained there despite demands from China for its removal.

China and Russia condemned the first deployment of the system to the Indo-Pacific, accusing Washington of fuelling an arms race.

China’s foreign ministry said today that it was very concerned about the plan to keep the system in place.

Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “It seriously threatens the security of regional countries and intensifies geopolitical confrontation.”

Philippine officials said that both its and the US’s forces continued to train with the missile system, even though the joint exercises end this month.

The US government source said that there was “strategic value for the Philippines in keeping the system to deter China,” saying: “We want to give them sleepless nights.”