Taiwan test-fires U.S. made HIMARS rocket system toward Chinese mainland.

Taiwan has conducted a live-fire military drill using the U.S.-supplied M142 HIMARS rocket system on its west coast facing China for the first time. The exercise simulated a response to a potential Chinese invasion and demonstrated the system’s “shoot-and-scoot” capability—firing rockets and then quickly relocating to avoid enemy counterattacks.  

Key points:

• The rockets were fired into the waters of the Taiwan Strait, the body of water separating Taiwan and mainland China.  
• The drill took place near Taichung on Taiwan’s western coast, an area considered a likely landing zone in the event of an amphibious assault.  
• Taiwan says the exercise is part of its defensive strategy to deter a potential attack and improve military readiness.  
• China claims Taiwan as its territory and regularly criticizes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, while Taiwan maintains that its future should be decided by its own people.  

The drill comes amid continued tensions across the Taiwan Strait and follows Taiwan’s broader efforts to strengthen its defenses with mobile missile and rocket systems.