The United States is continuing to boost its military presence near China, with a new anti-ship missile system being the latest weapon to be deployed on a Japanese outlying island on the front lines of the Western Pacific.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Why It Matters

Under America's maritime containment strategy, Japan forms part of the first island chain —a north-south defensive line—along with Taiwan and the Philippines, aimed at projecting military power to deter and defend against potential Chinese aggression.

The U.S. deployment of a Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, on Okinawa Island in Japan's southwestern waters comes as China continues to expand its military presence around the island chain w

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