By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio,<\/b> Reporter<\/i><\/p>\n
THE US military on Saturday stationed its sophisticated anti-ship missile system in the northern Philippines for tactical drills as part of the annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) war exercises, the Philippine military reported on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n The US Marine Corps transported the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) via a C-130 cargo aircraft to a secret location in northern Luzon, where it is set to engage in military practices within Cagayan and Batanes provinces, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.<\/p>\n \u201cThe NMESIS offers the combined and joint force a versatile and prompt sea denial capability, enhancing the mutual defense of both nations,\u201d it stated in a press release.<\/p>\n The military operation in northern Luzon will allow Philippine and US troops to practice how to thwart an invasion and evaluate the Philippines\u2019 coastal defense mechanisms. Its purpose is to bolster security collaboration and improve force interoperability in reaction to China\u2019s maneuvers to assert its extensive claims in the area.<\/p>\n The Balikatan drills, the largest annual exercises held by the Philippine and US militaries, this year focused on combat operations near regional hotspots, such as Batanes province close to Taiwan and the South China Sea.<\/p>\n Since its initiation on April 21, around six Chinese research vessels have been reported navigating near Batanes province, according to Raymond M. Powell, a fellow at Stanford University\u2019s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAn unusual quantity of China\u2019s research vessels were deployed around Batanes last week,\u201d he mentioned in a Facebook Messenger chat. He suggested that Beijing may have sent the ships in response to the joint military exercises concentrated primarily in northern Philippines and its western coast.<\/span><\/p>\n The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not promptly respond to a Viber message requesting comment.<\/p>\n This development also followed a report from the Philippine Navy indicating that a Chinese aircraft carrier group and a reconnaissance vessel were observed navigating near the coast of the Philippines\u2019 northernmost isles last week.<\/p>\n In a separate announcement, the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) stated on Friday that its Nimitz aircraft carrier group is operating in the Philippine Sea, where it will conduct day and night flight operations and demonstrate the ability to swiftly deploy military aircraft under various weather conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThese operations uphold maritime security and ensure the US Navy maintains the readiness to project power throughout the region,\u201d the US INDOPACOM stated in a release on its website.<\/p>\n The South China Sea has emerged as a regional hotspot as Beijing continues to assert its claim over nearly the entire region, recognized as a crucial global trade route believed to be rich in minerals.<\/p>\n Philippine and Chinese forces have repeatedly clashed over competing claims in the sea, with tensions escalating around disputed maritime features such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.<\/p>\n Just last week, Chinese state media reported that the Chinese coast guard has asserted authority over a contested reef close to a Philippine military outpost in the South China Sea, a situation that could heighten tensions in the contentious waters.<\/p>\n China\u2019s coast guard has \u201cenforced maritime management\u201d on Sandy Cay, landing on the maritime feature located mere kilometers from Thitu Island (Pag-Asa Island), which hosts a Philippine military establishment, the state-supported Global Times<\/i> reported on April 24.<\/p>\n The Philippine Defense department and Armed Forces of the Philippines did not quickly respond to a Viber message requesting comment.<\/p>\n The Chinese coast guard conducted an \u201con-reef inspection\u201d and recorded \u201cunauthorized activities,\u201d all while coast guard officials displayed China\u2019s national flag on the reef, Global Times<\/i> reported.<\/p>\n