The U.S. is deploying an anti-ship missile system to Japan’s westernmost island, only 68 miles from Taiwan. As part of Keen Sword, the largest joint US-Japanese biennial military exercise, the U.S. Marines will deploy the system to the island of Yonaguni.
The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, has a range of 115 miles and can intercept Chinese vessels off the coast of Taiwan.
Chinese officials, aware of the development, are cautioning that it may step up coast guard and naval activity in the area in response.
In the two face-to-face meetings they’ve conducted this year, the issue of Taiwan has been presented to President Trump as a “hands off” proposition by China’s Xi Jinping. In response, Trump has put on hold an arms shipment to Taiwan, leaving in doubt his commitment to the island democracy.
The Okinawa Defense Bureau first disclosed the NMESIS deployment on October 1, and said it will also include a Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or Maidas.
