MANILA, Philippines – Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China has made an unusual move by showcasing a significant force, including the aircraft carrier Shandong, in response to the United States' deployment of a new coastal defense system. This is interpreted as a direct reaction to the ongoing US-Philippines joint military exercise, Balikatan 2025, currently taking place on Batan Island in the Philippines.
According to records from the Philippine Navy, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, along with a carrier strike group composed of destroyers, frigates, and support vessels, has been confirmed to have passed through the Luzon Strait, a strategic chokepoint separating northern Philippines and Taiwan, at least twice. Notably, the latest maritime missile system of the US Marine Corps, NMESIS (Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), is currently deployed on Batan Island, located in the center of the Luzon Strait.
In late April, the 3rd Littoral Combat Regiment of the US Marine Corps deployed NMESIS to Batan Island for the first time as part of the Balikatan 2025 exercise. At the time, the US Marine Corps emphasized, "This is the first operational deployment of a Marine Corps weapon system in the Philippines and marks a significant milestone in the strong alliance between the Philippines and the United States."
The NMESIS system and personnel from the Medium-Range Missile Battery of the 3rd Littoral Combat Regiment established an operational base on Batan Island with support from the US Air Force's 39th Airlift Squadron's C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Simultaneously, US and Philippine Navy vessels conducted joint exercises throughout the Batanes Islands.
The US deployment of the NMESIS anti-ship missile system appears to be the primary cause of the Chinese Shandong carrier strike group's recent display of force. Furthermore, the Chinese government is also increasing diplomatic pressure on Washington, strongly protesting this deployment as an act that threatens regional stability and demanding an explanation. This mirrors the response when the US Army's Typhon missile launchers were previously deployed on Luzon Island.
NMESIS is a land-based anti-ship missile system that provides the joint US Navy and Marine Corps force with flexible and effective sea denial capabilities. The system integrates the Naval Strike Missile produced by Norway's Kongsberg, the JLTV tactical armored vehicle platform from Oshkosh, and advanced command and control and sensor systems, enabling network integration with other platforms and the detection of various maritime targets.
NMESIS, a mobile anti-ship system, was first tested during "Large Scale Exercise 2021," during which the 21st Marine Regiment successfully demonstrated its ability to strike target ships at distances exceeding 100 nautical miles (approximately 185 km).
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