Key facts
- Taiwan conducted a HIMARS rocket launch exercise on June 10, directing fire towards the Taiwan Strait.
- This was the first time the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System was launched in the direction of mainland China.
- The drill demonstrated Taiwan's evolving defensive strategy, focusing on mobile strike weapons to counter a potential invasion.
- Launchers were deployed near Taichung on Taiwan's west coast, simulating rapid reinforcement and precision strikes against advancing enemy forces.
Taiwan's recent launch of HIMARS rockets westward towards the Taiwan Strait signals a significant shift in its defensive strategy. The exercise, conducted on June 10, was the first time the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System was fired in the direction of mainland China, highlighting Taiwan's plan to employ mobile strike weapons to disrupt an invasion before it reaches shore.
Analysts view the drill as revealing Taiwan's strategy for employing this crucial new weapon in a potential cross-strait conflict. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not ruled out using force to achieve reunification. While most nations do not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, the United States opposes any forceful takeover and is committed to supplying Taiwan with defensive armaments.