The US Navy has deployed a sophisticated anti-ship missile system to Batan Island in the northern Philippines for the first time, in a blatant display of force near Taiwan. The move comes amid rising tensions with China, which has held large-scale military operations outside Taiwan to warn against the island's push for legal independence, as stated by the Firstpost.
On April 26, the US Marines airlifted the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to Batan Island. Meanwhile, US and Filipino military conducted live-fire operations in Zambales province, targeting simulated hostile drones near the disputed South China Sea.
These operations are part of the annual Balikatan military drills, which have grown considerably this year, Firstpost reprted.
Approximately 9,000 US troops, 5,000 Filipino military, plus contingents from Australia, Japan, and other countries are deployed in numerous important areas throughout the region.
