TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US is deploying anti-ship missiles to a Philippine island chain closest to Taiwan for the first time as part of joint military exercises with the Philippines. 

On April 16, the 3rd US Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) announced that during this year’s annual “Balikatan," the US military would deploy anti-ship missiles in the Luzon Strait, per Naval News. During the drills, the Marine regiment will deploy the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems (NMESIS), which is equipped with the Naval Strike Missile, on the Batanes Islands, 176 km south of the Hengchun Peninsula. 

According to Naval News, this is the first time the US has deployed anti-ship missiles on the strategically significant Batanes island chain. This year’s Balikatan exercise will be held from April 21 to May 9.

The US military will airlift several anti-ship missile launchers from northern Luzon Island to "multiple islands" in the Batanes. Although no live missiles will be fired during the exercise, a medium-range missile battery from the 3rd MLR will collaborate with the Philippine Marine Corps 4th Brigade to establish a Fires Expeditionary Advanced Base in the Luzon Strait to simulate missile launch missions.

“The NMESIS provides 3d MLR 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," said the regiment. It added that, "In the Philippines, the NMESIS will also aid in shaping defensive capabilities in accordance with the AFP’s coastal defense strategy." 

The Hawaii-based 3rd MLR regiment received the NMESIS in December, making it the first US Marine Corps unit in the Indo-Pacific region to possess dedicated anti-ship capabilities. The US 12th MLR, based in Okinawa, Japan, is also expected to receive launchers.

The 3rd MLR also said that NMESIS will help the Philippines develop a defense capability aligned with its maritime defense strategy. According to the unit, Manila requested the system following last year’s Balikatan exercise in the Batanes Islands.

Naval News described the Batanes Islands as “within one of the strategic chokepoints for transitioning between the first and second island chains.” Given the 185-km range of the NMESIS, deploying it on Batanes places it within striking distance of many vessels navigating the 250-km-wide Luzon Strait.