Taiwan deploys advanced US HIMARS rockets in annual drills

12/7/2025 15:55

Taiwan's military began deploying one of its newest and most precise strike weapons on Saturday, ahead of live-fire drills meant to showcase the island's determination to resist any Chinese invasion.



Two armoured trucks with HIMARS - High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems - were seen manoeuvring around the city of Taichung near Taiwan's central coast on the fourth of 10 days of its most comprehensive annual exercises yet.



The live-fire portion of the Han Kuang drills is expected next week.



In wartime, said Colonel Chen Lian-jia, a military spokesperson, it would be vital to conceal HIMARS from enemy aerial reconnaissance, satellites "or even enemy operatives behind our lines" until the order to fire was given.



China's defence ministry said this week the Han Kuang drills were "nothing but a bluff" while its foreign ministry said its opposition to U.S.-Taiwan military ties was "consistent and very firm".



Regional military attaches say the HIMARS deployment in a warlike exercise will be closely watched, given that they have been used extensively by Ukraine against Russian forces.