The US is already deploying weapons in the western Pacific to defend Taiwan from ChinaAs tensions due to China’s aspirations rise in the Indo-Pacific region, especially around Taiwan, the US Marine Corps has deployed new weapon systems in the Pacific. These systems have been deployed both North and South of Taiwan.The US Marine Corps has deployed the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and the Marine Air Defence Integrated System (MADIS) in Okinawa in Japan. This mobile defence system is now forward deployed less than 600km away from Taiwan’s mainland and can be forward deployed on Japanese islands closer to the threatened island nation that China considers a breakaway province.
At the same time, the Marine Corps has been rehearsing deployments closer to Taiwan. In June, NMESIS and MADIS systems were transported by contracted Philippine commercial vessels to Calayan Island in the Luzon Strait during the KAMANDAG 10 drills. This joint US-Filipino exercise, with a focus on coastal defence and dispersal across archipelagos such as the Babuyan and Batanes Islands. From these positions, NMESIS can hold maritime traffic at ranges of up to 100 nautical miles or a little over 180km. MADIS was deployed alongside to protect against aerial threats. The deployment of these missiles in the Luzon Strait would make it difficult for China to encircle Taiwan from the south, while the deployment of missiles in the southern Japanese islands, northeast of Taiwan, would make it difficult to blockade the island nation. This has been strategised by the Pentagon and is known as OPLAN 5077 is the official operational designation for the United States military’s regional war plan to defend Taiwan and counter a potential Chinese attack, according to the US Naval Institute.The acquisition of these missile systems are central to the Marine Corps’ Force Design initiative, aimed at modernising capabilities for contested littoral environments. NMESIS is a mobile, ground-based anti-ship missile system designed for sea denial and island defence, while MADIS provides short-range air defence against drones and aircraft. Together, these systems will give US forces in the region both a sword and a shield to operate in the region.The systems had already been tested in earlier deployments. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment based in Hawaii received NMESIS in November 2024 and MADIS in December 2024. They were subsequently deployed to the Philippines during Exercises Balikatan 25 and 26, as well as in Exercise Resolute Dragon 2025. These drills demonstrated the utility in joint operations and reinforced the Marine Corps’ ability to integrate with allied forces. The 3rd Marine Division continues to emphasise flexibility and readiness, ensuring it can operate effectively across the Pacific region.The regiment plans to eventually use McClung-class Landing Ship Mediums to move these systems, though the first vessel will not enter service until 2029. In the meantime, Marines have relied on commercial ferries, roll-on/roll-off vessels, and US Army logistics support ships to manoeuvre their forces. These deployments establish a forward-based maritime strike capability along the first island chain, complementing the Army’s Mid-Range Capability systems already flown to the Philippines and Japan.
