US Deploys Missile System In Philippines Amid China Submarine Expansion

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – Despite Chinese opposition, the U.S. plans to deploy more high-tech missile systems to the Philippines to help deter Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, where the two treaty allies condemned what they called China’s “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities.”

Beijing has repeatedly expressed alarm over the installation in the northern Philippines of a U.S. mid-range missile system called the Typhon in 2024 and of an anti-ship missile launcher last year.

China has asked the Philippines to withdraw the missile launchers from its territory, but officials led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have rejected the demand.

Meanwhile, China has ramped up its production of nuclear-powered submarines over the past five years to the point where it is launching subs faster than the United States, threatening to negate a sea-power advantage that has long belonged to Washington, a new think tank report says.

The buildup in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s nuclear-powered sub force includes both ballistic-missile and attack subs, the report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) says.

During the years 2021 to 2025, China’s submarine building surpassed that of the U.S. in both numbers of subs launched – 10 to 7 – and tonnage – 79,000 to 55,500.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

The sound of Munich: Autonomy, anxiety, and the twilight of transatlantic order. Munich was warmer than Washington this weekend, both in weather and in sentiment. Neither development was widely forecast.

HOMELAND DEFENSE

A pair of F-16s sitting on NORAD alert at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California, were scrambled after unidentified flying objects were reported over Nevada and, later, California. One of the objects proved puzzling enough to controllers at the FAA’s regional air traffic hub that they asked aircraft over northern California for visual confirmation of what they were. They were balloons.

Pentagon wants sensors that can detect small drones threatening military installations across U.S.

HOMELAND SECURITY

“Are you a spy?” Army warns against falling for honeypot traps laid by anyone who starts flirting with them.

An immigration judge has dismissed a deportation case against a landscaper, and the father of three U.S. Marines, arrested in Southern California last year. He is now on the path toward legal permanent residency in the U.S.

Coast Guard interdicted two drug-smuggling vessels off Port Everglades, Fla., carrying 745 pounds of cocaine valued at $5.6 million.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Coast Guard to work without pay during DHS shutdown. With no agreement on funding and Congress on recess until Feb. 23, the Coast Guard is expected to undergo a shutdown beginning at midnight Friday.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Trump, for the first time, publicly revealed the serious nature of leg injuries suffered by U.S. helicopter pilots from enemy machine guns on the ground in a daring raid to seize Venezuelan narco dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife from the Caracas army base.

IRAN THREAT

USS Gerald Ford is the second aircraft carrier sent to the Middle East to back up the USS Abraham Lincoln already there, putting more firepower behind President Trump’s efforts to coerce Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.

Air Force awarded Boeing a sole-source contract for new massive bunker-buster bombs to replace munitions used in last June’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

U.S. and Iran to hold their second round of talks about Iran’s nuclear program in Geneva as Iran holds large-scale maritime exercises.

“Formidable” military action against Iran if Trump pulls the trigger. Retired four-star Army Gen. Jack Keane believes Trump is inching closer to a decision on using military force against Iran as the president escalates pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.

MIDEAST THREAT

Central Command conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 Islamic State terror targets in Syria.

Saudi Arabia is buying new C-27 tactical air lifters from Leonardo to use as armed maritime patrol aircraft, making it the first nation to use the aircraft in that format.

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

Kremlin rejects European accusations that it poisoned Navalny with dart frog toxin.

What is the dart frog toxin allegedly used to kill Alexei Navalny?

About 1,500 targets a day is the scale U.S. Army leaders say they are preparing for in a large-scale war with Russia in Europe.

Ukraine recaptured 201 square km territory from Russia in five days last week – its biggest gain in 2.5 years. Experts said Ukraine likely took advantage of the recent shutdown of Russian forces’ access to Starlink.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE BUILDUP

F-35’s “computer brain,” including its cloud-based components, could be cracked to accept third-party software updates, just like “jailbreaking” a cellphone, according to the Dutch Defense Minister.

Pentagon official blesses Europe’s push to spend defense money at home. The U.S. has changed its attitude on European allies funneling defense funds to local arms industries and will be “pragmatic” about governments choosing to buy military equipment domestically.

Slovakia is in talks with the U.S. to buy an additional four F-16 fighter jets on top of the 14 copies ordered.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Buying Chinese EVs is just dumb. Canadians stupidly say they’ll buy cheaper Chinese EVs as tariffs drop.

Resistance to Chinese electric vehicles is down.

US MILITARY

Space Force wants to double the number of guardians in its ranks, having already beaten its recruitment goals for this fiscal year.

Army’s Global Response Force will begin assessing Bumblebee V2 drone interceptor in March following a $5.2 million contract award.

Sig Sauer mounts a machine gun to a drone at the SHOT Show 2026 in Las Vegas, as it looks to expand its reach in the defense industry with more offerings.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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