Taiwan’s military on Wednesday fired rockets in China’s direction from US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, during a live-fire drill in Taichung, in a demonstration of how it might respond to a Chinese attack.
According to AP, the exercise marked the first time HIMARS rockets were fired into the waters of the Taiwan Strait from Taiwan’s west coast, which faces China.
The military said the drill was designed to test rapid deployment and precision-strike capability, while also showing how mobile launchers can move after firing to reduce the risk of counterattack.
NEW: Taiwan’s Fifth Theater Command conducted HIMARS live-fire verification on the west coast for the first time, marking the system’s first live-fire exercise outside Jiupeng Base.
— Taiwan Security Monitor (台灣安全觀測站) (@TaiwanMonitor) June 10, 2026
The drill tested rapid shoot-and-scoot procedures, cross-regional fire support, and long-range… pic.twitter.com/uudX60Devj
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Three minutes and away they go
The exercise formed part of a two-day drill, with Taiwan’s military saying it used reduced-range practice rockets that did not travel far before falling into the water.
The rockets were fired on the second day of exercises. The HIMARS vehicles moved into position and launched within three minutes after receiving a firing order. Army Sgt. Wang Ming-hui said, “Due to the current enemy threat, we will continue HIMARS training with unwavering determination to protect Taiwan as the nation’s strongest force.”
DRUMS OF WAR Taiwan fires dozens of US-made missiles towards China from
— Simo Saadi (@Simo7809957085) June 10, 2026
'shoot and scoot' launchers for first time in show of force pic.twitter.com/fVO4FxOBcS
A sharper quill in the porcupine's armoury
Taiwan had test-fired HIMARS for the first time last year off its east coast, but Wednesday’s drill was the first west-coast firing of the weapon in central Taiwan’s Taichung.
Company commander Ko Ming-pin said, “Our HIMARS demonstrated the solid combat capabilities of the unit and successfully completed this training.”
Taiwan’s military is trying to build an asymmetric force made up of more mobile systems that can still pack a punch, with HIMARS seen as part of a “porcupine” strategy meant to make the island harder to attack.
With a range of about 300 km, the system can hit coastal targets in China’s southeastern Fujian province.
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The shadow over the strait lengthens
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.
Chinese warships and aircraft operate near Taiwan almost daily. The United States does not recognize Taiwan as a country but remains its main arms supplier and opposes any change to Taiwan’s status by force.
The HIMARS drill comes as Taipei continues to expand its defenses and train for a possible invasion scenario along its west coast, where beaches and mud flats are seen as the most likely landing zone in the event of an attack.
FAQs
Q1: What is the HIMARS rocket system used by Taiwan?
Ans: HIMARS is a US-made mobile rocket launcher designed for rapid deployment and precision strikes at long ranges.
Q2: Why did Taiwan fire HIMARS rockets toward China?
Ans: Taiwan said the live-fire drill was aimed at testing its ability to respond quickly to a potential Chinese military attack and strengthen deterrence.
