US missile deployment to Philippines 'incredibly important' for combat readiness, US general says

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The U.S. Army’s recent deployment of a midrange missile system to the northern Philippines was “incredibly important” and allowed American and Filipino forces to jointly train for the potential usage of such heavy weaponry in Asian archipelago conditions, a U.S. general said Monday.

The Biden administration has moved to strengthen an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in any possible confrontation over Taiwan and other Asian flashpoints. The Philippines has also worked on shoring up its territorial defenses after its disputes with China started to escalate last year in the increasingly volatile South China Sea.

China has vehemently opposed the increased deployment of American combat forces to Asia. But it has been particularly alarmed by the U.S. Army’s deployment in April of the Typhon missile system, a land-based weapon that can fire the Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, to the northern Philippines as part of joint combat exercises in April with Philippine troops.

"What it does collectively, it provides us the opportunity to understand how to employ that capability — the environmental challenges here are very unique to any other place in the region,” U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, Commanding General of the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division, said when asked how the missile system has helped participants in joint combat training in the Philippines.

"Last year, we also deployed long-range fires capabilities with HIMARS and we were able to move those around with fixed-wing aircraft around the archipelago environment,” Evans told The Associated Press in an interview in Manila, referring to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, the truck-mounted launchers, which fire GPS-guided missiles capable of hitting distant targets.

"Those are just incredibly important operations because you get to work in the environment, but most importantly, you’re working alongside our partners here in the Philippines to understand how those will be integrated into their operations,” Evans said without elaborating.

The Typhon missile system was supposed to be flown out of the Philippines last month, but three Philippine security officials told the AP recently that the longtime treaty allies had agreed to keep the missile system in the northern Philippines indefinitely to boost deterrence despite China’s expressions of alarm.

The Philippine officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive U.S. missile deployment publicly.

Evans flew to Manila to start talks with Philippine army counterparts on holding annual military exercises by the allied forces in the Southeast Asian country next year, particularly the Salaknib drills, which aim to boost the combat-readiness of thousands of American and Filipino troops in increasingly realistic settings.

"Conceptually, it is scheduled to be a larger, more complex exercise,” Evans said adding that there could be joint training maneuvers from the jungles in the northern Philippines to former U.S. military bases in the region.

“We’re also planning on bringing new equipment to train alongside our Filipino army teammates that last year we did not have,” he said without providing details.

“Our job is to get 1% better each day alongside our Filipino army teammates in terms of readiness,” he said. “Those relationships that are built, the readiness that is developed, should remove any doubt about the importance of our alliances and the work we do here with the Philippine army.”

Evans and other U.S. Army officials attended a ceremony Sunday marking the anniversary of a historic moment in U.S.-Philippine relations when U.S. Gen. Douglas Macarthur fulfilled his promise to return to the Philippines in October 1944 by wading ashore into the coast of central Leyte province to help lead the liberation of the country from Japanese occupation forces.

On Monday, Evans and his men laid a wreath in an austere ceremony at the American Cemetery in metropolitan Manila, the largest such U.S. World War II cemetery and memorial in the world.

The Leyte Gulf ceremony reflected the long history that had bonded American and Filipino forces in war and peace, he said.

"That trust was built over eight decades,” Evans said.

Associated Press photographer Aaron Favila contributed to this report.

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, left, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division and Sgt. Major Shaun Curry salute during a wreath laying ceremony to honor American soldiers died during World War II at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, right, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division, looks at names of American soldiers who died during World War II that are carved on a wall at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division looks at names of American soldiers who died during World War II that are carved on a wall at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

An American soldier walks past a wreath during ceremonies to honor American soldiers died during World War II at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, right, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division walks beside a wreath during rites to honor American soldiers died during World War II at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division, salutes during a wreath laying rite to honor American soldiers died during World War II at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, left, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division and Sgt. Major Shaun Curry arrange a wreath during rites to honor American soldiers died during World War II at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, left, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division and Sgt. Major Shaun Curry salute during a wreath laying rite to honor American soldiers died during World War II at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, right, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division and Sgt. Major Shaun Curry walk after a wreath laying rite to honor American soldiers died during World War II at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

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Patrick Mahomes is having his worst season statistically and the Chiefs keep losing playmakers to injuries.

The two-time defending Super Bowl champions are 6-0 anyway.

Kansas City is the NFL’s only unbeaten team following an ugly 28-18 victory over San Francisco in a Super Bowl rematch on Sunday that looked more like a preseason game.

Mahomes, a two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP, threw two picks and posted a career-worst 44.4 passer rating against the 49ers, but he made enough plays, including a nifty 33-yard run, to lead the Chiefs to their 12th straight win, dating to last year.

Mahomes has more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (six) this season and a career-low 82.5 passer rating. But a stingy defense and a strong run game has led the way for Kansas City, which lost cornerback Jaylen Watson and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to injuries in the latest win.

The Chiefs already are without No. 1 receiver Rashee Rice and top running back Isiah Pacheco, plus Marquise “Hollywood” Brown has yet to play.

Still, the Chiefs continue winning. It’s a testament to coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

“It’s about us getting better throughout the year and how we can keep getting better from our previous game to now,” Travis Kelce said. “There’s a lot of doubters in terms of what we can do offensively right now with the guys that we’ve got and I think we showed everybody that we can put up points today.”

Unlike Kansas City, Brock Purdy and the 49ers (3-4) haven’t overcome a slew of injuries to several key players. They’ve been inconsistent, mistake-prone and hardly resemble the team that reached the NFC title game each of the past three seasons.

Purdy tossed three interceptions against Kansas City and had a career-worst 36.7 passer rating.

Now, the 49ers have to deal with another major blow. Receiver Brandon Aiyuk sustained a knee injury that coach Kyle Shanahan fears is a season-ending torn ligament. Deebo Samuel was limited to four snaps against Kansas City because of an illness and Jauan Jennings was sidelined with a hip injury. All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey hasn’t played this season.

“Is there more pressure for me to put on a Superman cape and do more? No,” Purdy said. “I think who we have and the players that we have that step up in those positions, they’ve done a great job and we have a lot of talent in my eyes. That’s on me and we’ll just all continue to grow and fight on this journey together.”

Deshaun Watson is finished for the season. Jayden Daniels’ sensational rookie year is on hold. Aidan O’Connell is out, too.

There were several significant injuries across the league.

Watson torn his Achilles tendon in Cleveland’s loss to Cincinnati, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The Browns (1-6) made the playoffs last year after Watson went down for the season, but they have no chance this season.

Daniels, who is having an exceptional rookie season, injured his ribs in Washington’s rout over Carolina. He is scheduled for tests on Monday, but the NFC East-leading Commanders (5-2) should get him back at some point.

O’Connell left his first start of the season because of a thumb injury and the Raiders lost to the Rams. He’ll be out indefinitely as Las Vegas (2-5) goes back to Gardner Minshew.

The NFC North still goes through Detroit.

Jared Goff had another stellar game to lead the Lions (5-1) to a 31-29 victory in Minnesota, handing the Vikings their first loss of the season.

Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs were sensational in the NFC North showdown and Detroit's defense stepped up in its first game without Aidan Hutchinson.

Many analysts, including former players, questioned Mike Tomlin’s decision to start Russell Wilson after Justin Fields helped the Steelers start 4-2.

Wilson silenced the doubters with an impressive performance in his Pittsburgh debut.

Shaking off early rust in his first start since last Dec. 24, Wilson threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a score and posted a 109.0 passer rating to lead the Steelers (5-2) to a 37-15 win over the New York Jets.

Wilson, who lacks Fields’ speed and scrambling ability, threw several perfect deep balls and lobs to George Pickens and other receivers.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, cannot catch a pass while being defended by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

On Football: Crafty Chiefs keep winning despite Mahomes' struggles and injuries

On Football: Crafty Chiefs keep winning despite Mahomes' struggles and injuries

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after a touchdown by Mecole Hardman during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)