In a rare move, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China recently deployed its aircraft carrier Shandong as part of a show of force in response to the presence of the new NMESIS anti-ship missile systems that the U.S. has stationed in the Philippines. The deployment of this modern coastal defense system is part of the ongoing Balikatan 2025 joint exercise, currently being held on Batan Island.
According to recent reports and records from the Philippine Navy, China’s Shandong aircraft carrier, along with the destroyers, frigates, and support ships comprising its Carrier Strike Group, conducted at least two transits through the Luzon Strait—a strategic body of water that separates the northern Philippines from Taiwan. Notably, the U.S. Marine Corps’ NMESIS anti-ship missile systems are currently deployed on Batan Island, which is located in the center of the strait.
It is worth recalling that at the end of April, the U.S. Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment deployed the Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to Batan Island for the first time as part of Exercise Balikatan 2025. The Marine Corps emphasized: “…This marks the inaugural employment of the Marine Corps’ weapon system in the Philippines and serves as an important milestone for the strong alliance between the Philippines and the United States…”.
For their transport to Batan Island, the Marines were supported by C-130 Hercules aircraft from the U.S. Air Force’s 39th Airlift Squadron. The NMESIS systems and Marines from the 3rd Littoral Combat Team’s Medium Range Missile Battery (MMSL) established an operational position on Batan Island, while U.S. and Philippine naval formations conducted exercises throughout the Batanes archipelago.
The presence of the U.S. NMESIS anti-ship systems not only appears to have prompted the recent show of force by the Shandong carrier strike group, but Beijing is also exerting diplomatic pressure on Washington, demanding explanations for a deployment it views as a threat to regional stability. Similar complaints were made regarding the deployment of U.S. Army Typhon missile launchers, which were previously stationed on Luzon Island.
The NMESIS is a land-based anti-ship missile system that provides the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps joint force with a flexible and effective sea-denial capability. NMESIS integrates the Kongsberg-produced Naval Strike Missile with an OshKosh JLTV tactical armored vehicle platform and a state-of-the-art command, control, and sensor system that enables networking with other platforms and the detection of various naval targets.
This expeditionary anti-ship system was first tested in 2021 during the “Large Scale Exercise 2021,” where Marines from the 21st Regiment successfully struck a target vessel at a distance of over 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers).
Cover image for illustration purposes only. Credit: People’s Liberation Army Navy of China.
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