US deploys ‘ship killer’ missiles to Philippines for battle test

Australian troops will take part in military exercises in the Philippines to rehearse ‘war plans’, amid tensions with Beijing over South China Sea and Taiwan.

The US Army conducts live fire tests of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.Picture; AFP.

The United States is deploying “ship killer” missiles in the Philippines, the strongest expression so far by the Trump administration of its opposition to Chinese military encroachment on the South China Sea and Taiwan.

The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, known as Nmesis, is a vehicle-mounted missile intended for use against enemy ships from coastal areas. It will be used in simulations as part of Balikatan, three weeks of joint American-Philippine military exercises - which will also feature Australian troops - that began on Monday.

Lieutenant General James Glynn of the US Marine Corps said at the opening ceremony in Manila: “We will demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defence treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so. Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity.”

Although he did not spell it out, the exercises are clearly aimed at China.

US Marines Lieutenant General James Glynn greets a Philippine military officials to launch the Philippines-US joint military exercise called “Balikatan” in Quezon city, Philippines on Monday. Picture: AP

Special forces will carry out training in Batanes, a province of islands in the northernmost reaches of the Philippines, closest to Taiwan, the self-ruling island that China claims as its own. Nmesis will be transported to Batanes.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has been holding intense air and sea exercises in the strait that divides China from Taiwan. To the west of the Philippines, Chinese coastguard ships assert President Xi’s disputed claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. In both zones, Beijing insists on the right to enforce its territorial claims by force if necessary.

The US and the Philippines say that the Balikatan exercises are defensive in character, but acknowledge they are rehearsals for war. Brigadier General Michael Logico of the Philippine Army said: “What we are looking at here is an exercise verging into a full battle test. We are treating the exercise as a rehearsal for our defence.”

Colonel Doug Krugman of the US Marines said: “It is like a war plan being tested.”

About 9000 troops from the Philippines, 5000 from the US and 200 from Australia will take part in the exercises, which will continue until May 9. The deployment “serves as a major milestone for the continuously developing US-Philippines alliance”, the US Marines said.

Japan, the Czech Republic, Poland and Colombia will send official observers. The exercises will include practising aerial surveillance, sinking a ship with artillery and missile fire, and repelling the enemy seizure of an island.

Although it will not be used in live-fire exercises, Nmesis is expected to be left in position after Balikatan is over. In this way, the exercises are a means of stealthily arming the Philippines. The same thing happened last year when the US Typhon missile system was “left behind” after annual exercises.

Balikatan follows a visit to Manila last month by Pete Hegseth, the US Defence Secretary. He told President Marcos of the Philippines that the US would increase military links with his country to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

Mr Hegseth added: “Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in your country - considering the threats from the communist Chinese.”

The Times