Taiwan Fires HIMARS Rockets Toward China-Facing Waters for First Time

Taipei: Demonstrating its military might, Taiwan fired US-supplied HIMARS rockets toward China. During a two-day exercise, Taiwan employed the mobile "shoot-and-scoot" launchers. The drills were focused specifically on the Taiwan Strait—the body of water separating Taiwan from China. Experts state that these exercises by the Taiwanese military aim to demonstrate their capability to respond to a Chinese attack; such maneuvers are likely to heighten concerns for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Although the US-supplied HIMARS system has undergone testing previously, this recent live-fire exercise marked the first time rockets were launched into the waters of the Taiwan Strait. Sergeant Wang Ming-hui of the Taiwanese military stated that, given the prevailing threat from the enemy, they remain fully committed to continuing HIMARS training to defend Taiwan as a robust military force.

Taiwan Shifts Strategy!

The Taiwanese military reported using short-range practice rockets; these do not travel far from the coast and land in the water. The rockets were fired on the second day of exercises from Taiwan's western coast, which faces China. The drills also involved 155mm howitzers. The objective was to practice responding to a Chinese attack and to test capabilities regarding rapid deployment and precision strikes.

HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a key component of the US strategy regarding Taiwan. This strategy relies on an asymmetric approach to keep China at bay, rather than engaging in a direct confrontation. Truck-mounted rocket pods can be moved out of concealment to launch missiles and then rapidly repositioned to a new hiding spot; this is known as the "shoot-and-scoot" strategy.

HIMARS Draws Attention

HIMARS has been the highlight of this exercise. Upon receiving the firing order, the vehicles moved into position and launched rockets amidst bright flashes within three minutes, demonstrating their mobility. The US had announced plans in December to sell an additional 82 HIMARS systems to Taiwan as part of a major arms deal, though Washington has currently put this package on hold.

The China-Taiwan issue is long-standing. China considers Taiwan to be its province and has not ruled out a military attack to gain control over the island. China frequently deploys warships and aircraft near Taiwan. The US plays a crucial role amidst this tension; Taiwan has been receiving large-scale arms supplies from the US, and Washington could adopt an aggressive stance against any Chinese interference in Taiwan.