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Newsweek
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Pacific Ally to Host US Missile System Amid China Naval Threat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States missile system capable of sinking warships will reportedly be deployed on a Japanese island during a planned joint war game amid a growing naval threat from China. "Specific details concerning equipment and training locations will be announced by Japan's Ministry of Defense closer to the beginning of the exercise," the III Marine Expeditionary Force—a U.S. Marine Corps unit based in Japan—said in a written response to Newsweek. Newsweek has also contacted the Chinese and Japanese defense ministries via email for comment. Why It Matters Japan is part of a U.S. maritime containment strategy known as the First Island Chain—alongside Taiwan and the Philippines—which aims to limit the operating range of China's navy—the world's largest by hull count—within East Asian waters in the event of a conflict. China continues to expand its military presence beyond the First Island Chain by gradually increasing the scale of its warship deployments in the wider Western Pacific, including the simultaneous operation of two aircraft carriers on the eastern side of the island chain in June. In response, the U.S. is strengthening its defense posture along the island chain. This year, the Philippines has already hosted two American anti-ship missile systems—the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). The United States Marine Corps stages the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System as a part of an exercise on the Philippines' Batanes Islands on May 25. The United States Marine Corps stages the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System as a part of an exercise on the Philippines' Batanes Islands on May 25. Cpl. Malia Sparks/U.S. Marine Corps What To Know Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported on Saturday that the country's Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. military will conduct the exercise "Resolute Dragon" across the Japanese archipelago next month, including Okinawa Prefecture and the main island of Kyushu. Okinawa Prefecture, located in Japan's southwestern waters between the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea, is made up of several outlying island groups. Meanwhile, Kyushu—situated north of Okinawa—is the southernmost of the country's four main islands in Northeast Asia. According to the report, the war game—planned for September 11 to 25—will test the allies' ability to defend Japan's remote islands, including the potential deployment of the NMESIS on Ishigaki Island, which is part of the Sakishima island group in Okinawa Prefecture. The NMESIS is a missile system mounted on an unmanned vehicle, capable of carrying up to two Naval Strike Missiles with a range of over 115 miles. The report further noted that no live-fire drills will take place during the deployment of the NMESIS on the Japanese island. "Specific details on equipment, locations, and timing during Resolute Dragon have not been finalized," the III Marine Expeditionary Force told Newsweek on Monday. The previous iteration of the bilateral exercise was held from July 28 to August 7, 2024, across Japan. The Japanese military frequently tracks and reports on China's naval activities near Okinawa Prefecture, as Chinese vessels transit the Miyako Strait—which lies between Miyako Island and Okinawa Island—a major gateway for deployments beyond the First Island Chain. On Saturday, a pair of Chinese warships—a destroyer and a frigate—were spotted passing through the Miyako Strait on a southeastward voyage, moving from the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea, the Joint Staff of Japan's Defense Ministry reported on Monday. What People Are Saying The U.S. III Marine Expeditionary Force told Newsweek on Monday: "The U.S. Marine Corps remains in close coordination and planning with the Government of Japan to ensure all activities and training are conducted safely and remain committed to transparency with local communities, the Government of Japan, and our Allies and partners." Japan's defense white paper 2025 read: "China has been swiftly increasing its national defense expenditures, thereby extensively and rapidly enhancing its military capability in a qualitative and quantitative manner and intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, including around the Senkaku Islands, and the Pacific." The Senkaku Islands are an islet group in the East China Sea, ruled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan as the Diaoyu Islands and the Diaoyutai Islands, respectively. What Happens Next? It remains to be seen whether the U.S. military will deploy other missile systems in Japan to bolster the ally's defense, including the MRC and the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), which were featured in a war game that took place in Australia last month.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Keeps American Missiles at Choke Point Near China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philippines, a mutual defense treaty ally of the United States, said that an American missile system capable of sinking warships will remain in the country for training purposes. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command for comment via email. The Chinese defense and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Why It Matters The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, is a ground-based launcher equipped with two missiles designed to target enemy ships. It is part of the U.S. Marine Corps' maritime strategy in the Pacific, where China is expanding its naval presence. The American anti-ship missile system was first deployed to the Philippines in late April for Exercise Balikatan 2025 and remained in the country for Exercise KAMANDAG 9 in late May. It participated in the drills from the Philippines' Batanes Islands in the Luzon Strait. The waterway located north of the Philippines serves as a key gateway through the First Island Chain for China's naval deployments into the broader Pacific. The island defense line, comprising Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, is designed to keep China's navy in check. What To Know Captain John Percie Alcos, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, said on Tuesday that the NMESIS remains in the country, where it will be used to train the Philippine Marine Corps. He declined to disclose the location of the U.S. missile system, citing operational security. The announcement comes after a pair of Chinese aircraft carriers, the CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong, transited near the Philippines for deployments beyond the First Island Chain. Without naming a specific country, the official said that the presence of the NMESIS, capable of striking targets over 115 miles away, serves as a deterrent to those who intend to conduct "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions" against the Philippines. The Philippines has territorial disputes with China over maritime features in the South China Sea, often resulting in confrontations and clashes between their naval forces. Washington has reaffirmed its security commitment to Manila under a 1951 mutual defense treaty. The NMESIS became the second U.S. missile system stationed in the Philippines following joint exercises. A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system has remained in the Southeast Asian country "indefinitely" after participating in a drill in April last year. U.S. Marines operate the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System in the Philippines on May 27, 2025. U.S. Marines operate the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System in the Philippines on May 27, 2025. Cpl. Malia Sparks/U.S. Marine Corps What People Are Saying Captain John Percie Alcos, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, at a press briefing on Tuesday: "The NMESIS will remain here in our country for as long as training opportunities are still there for us, for us to use that particular military equipment so that our Marines can better conduct combined operations with their counterparts." The U.S. Third Marine Division, in a press release in April: "The NMESIS provides [the U.S. Third Marine Littoral Regiment] with enhanced sea denial capability, deepens naval integration, and strengthens deterrence by extending the Joint Force's ability to target and engage from both land and sea. In the Philippines, the NMESIS will also aid in shaping defensive capabilities in accordance with the [the Armed Forces of the Philippines]'s coastal defense strategy." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Philippines will consider acquiring the NMESIS to counter threats posed by the Chinese navy, the world's largest by hull count. The U.S. has been equipping its Pacific allies and partners with various types of anti-ship missile systems.
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Simulates Missile Strikes on Warships at China Choke Point
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has conducted a simulated military operation using anti-ship weapons during a war game in the Philippines, as China expands its naval presence in nearby contested waters. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry via email for comment. Why It Matters The Philippines—Washington's mutual defense treaty ally—is part of the First Island Chain, along with Japan and Taiwan, under the U.S. containment strategy, which seeks to restrict China's naval access to the wider Pacific Ocean by leveraging America-aligned territories. According to a Pentagon assessment, the Chinese military has the largest navy in the world by hull count, with more than 370 ships and submarines in service. The Chinese navy has been operating around the Philippines, including deploying an aircraft carrier in late May. During the ongoing Exercise KAMANDAG 9, the U.S. military deployed the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to the Philippines' Batanes Islands in the Luzon Strait—a key gateway for China to access the waters east of the First Island Chain. What To Know The U.S. Marine Corps said that it had strategically positioned the NMESIS—a ground-based launcher armed with two Naval Strike Missiles with a 115-mile range—on Sunday on one of the Batanes Islands for simulated maritime interdiction during KAMANDAG 9. Maritime interdiction is defined by NATO as a naval operation intended to "delay, disrupt, or destroy" enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area. The simulated operation was part of a rehearsal to secure and defend key maritime terrain, the U.S. Marine Corps stated. Following insertion by a transport aircraft onto the island, the anti-ship weapon was remotely operated from the airfield into a concealed position to interdict maritime targets, the U.S. Marine Corps added, supporting the maintenance of open sea lines of communication. Meanwhile, a "kill web" was formed to conduct maritime strikes, employing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to "find, fix, and track" targets. According to the U.S. Marine Corps, no live-fire was conducted during each fire support rehearsal. The United States Marine Corps stages the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System to the Philippines' Batanes Islands as a part of Exercise KAMANDAG 9 on May 25, 2025. The United States Marine Corps stages the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System to the Philippines' Batanes Islands as a part of Exercise KAMANDAG 9 on May 25, 2025. Cpl. Malia Sparks/U.S. Marine Corps This simulated Maritime Key Terrain Security Operation (MKTSO) was carried out by the Third Marine Littoral Regiment, a Hawaii-based U.S. Marine Corps unit that specializes in amphibious and littoral, or shoreline, warfare operations and deploys across the Indo-Pacific region. In late April, the U.S. conducted another MKTSO using the NMESIS on Batan Island, simulating anti-ship strikes. The event coincided with the transit of a Chinese aircraft carrier through the Luzon Strait, moving between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. What People Are Saying The U.S. Third Marine Division said: "The synchronization of U.S.-Philippine forces during the KAMANDAG 9 MKTSO showcased the increased ability of the partnered militaries to coordinate complex, all-domain operations and further demonstrated the ironclad U.S.-Philippine alliance." Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Schrafft, U.S. Third Marine Littoral Regiment's fire support coordinator, said: "The constructive kills executed during the KAMANDAG 9 MKTSO are yet another example of the [Third Marine Littoral Regiment]'s proven value proposition to the Combined and Joint Force." What Happens Next The U.S. is likely to continue its military exercises with the Philippines featuring anti-ship weapons to counter China's naval threat. It remains unclear whether the NMESIS will stay in the Southeast Asian nation after Exercise KAMANDAG 9 concludes on Friday.
