US deploys new missile system to Philippine island near Taiwan in message to China

In a key show of force, the US Marine Corps has deployed a next-generation anti-ship missile system, known as the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (Nmesis), to Batan Island in the northern Philippines—just 120 miles from Taiwan. Delivered by a US Air Force C-130, the system’s arrival is part of the annual Balikatan military drills and highlights America’s effort to counter China’s naval dominance in the Pacific, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Designed to stop China’s naval advances

The Nmesis fires high-precision Norwegian Naval Strike Missiles, which can destroy enemy warships up to 115 miles away. Unlike sea-launched systems, this one is land-based, remotely operated, and harder to detect—making it ideal for deployment on remote islands. With Nmesis positioned in strategic chokepoints, Chinese ships approaching Taiwan or the South China Sea would face a much higher risk.

A shift in US military strategy

The deployment reflects the Marines’ shift toward a leaner, faster, and more mobile force capable of operating in contested Pacific waters. While China was growing its navy and missile stockpile during the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US is now focusing on catching up by making island-based defences a central part of its deterrence strategy.

Marines bring stealth and firepower to the archipelago

Unlike other land-based systems such as the Himars rocket launcher, Nmesis is tailored for maritime warfare. It’s transported by an unmanned truck, with human operators stationed in support vehicles at a safe distance. Its mobility and concealment make it difficult to target, according to Marine commander Col. John Lehane. “Once you put it on the ground, it is there. It can move around. It is hard to find,” he said.

A shell game with real consequences

Analysts describe the US approach as a strategic shell game—moving lethal assets like Nmesis unpredictably between islands to complicate Chinese planning. “You keep the other side guessing,” said Rommel Ong, a retired Philippine Navy vice commander, adding that this uncertainty helps deter aggression.

US-Philippines alliance plays critical role

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expanded U.S. access to Philippine bases under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, allowing for the storage of equipment and forward deployment of forces. Though the U.S. doesn’t permanently station troops in the Philippines, regular rotations and joint drills are making its presence increasingly embedded. Air Force pilots and Marines are now familiarizing themselves with Pacific island terrain, identifying mountains and foliage as potential hiding spots during real combat.

Nmesis now fully operational, not experimental

The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, which deployed the system to Batan, is no longer in the testing phase. “The most important thing is to get folks accustomed to the fact that where you see 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, you should expect that there are Nmesis with us,” Lehane said. The message to China: the US is preparing not just for potential conflict, but to fight and win on the islands of the Western Pacific.