Taiwan Deploys US-Supplied HIMARS in Han Kuang Drills to Counter China Threat

Taiwan has begun the deployment of U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) as part of its annual Han Kuang military exercises, a 10-day live-fire drill designed to simulate a full-scale Chinese invasion and demonstrate Taiwan’s defense capabilities. The deployment, seen in Taichung—a strategic city near Taiwan’s central coast—comes amid escalating military tensions with China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

The HIMARS — an advanced, precision-guided rocket artillery system manufactured by Lockheed Martin—was spotted on armored trucks maneuvering through urban settings, signaling Taiwan’s growing emphasis on mobile and long-range strike capabilities. According to Taiwanese military officials, concealing the location of HIMARS from enemy aerial surveillance, satellites, or internal operatives is vital in the event of real conflict, with the order to fire only being given at the most opportune moment.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the HIMARS deployment is a central feature of the Han Kuang exercise’s most intensive and realistic combat simulation yet. These drills aim to replicate unscripted combat conditions, beginning with simulated enemy strikes on critical infrastructure such as communications and command systems, and escalating into full-blown invasion scenarios.

Weapon Capabilities and Strategic Use

Taiwan received its first 11 HIMARS launchers out of a total 29 ordered from the United States in 2024, with initial tests conducted in May. With an operational range of approximately 300 kilometers (about 190 miles), HIMARS units deployed in Taiwan can potentially target coastal military assets in China’s Fujian province, directly across the Taiwan Strait.

Military analysts in Taiwan say the HIMARS will be integrated with the island’s indigenous Thunderbolt 2000 rocket launchers, enabling saturation attacks on Chinese naval forces attempting amphibious landings or exiting ports. A Thunderbolt unit was seen parked adjacent to HIMARS vehicles, suggesting coordinated battlefield deployment strategies.

The Han Kuang drills, now in their fourth day, have included high-profile operations such as a blockade of the Tamsui River outside Taipei, where explosive pontoons were deployed in a mock river defense maneuver.

China’s Response and Military Pressure

Beijing has condemned the military exercises as “a bluffing and self-deceiving trick.” Both China’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued strong statements reiterating their “firm and consistent opposition” to U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation. In parallel, China has stepped up its military posturing, with 14 Chinese air sorties and nine naval ships detected around Taiwan in recent days. Notably, nine of the sorties crossed the median line—the unofficial maritime boundary in the Taiwan Strait, an act considered highly provocative by Taipei.

Over the past five years, China has significantly ramped up its military pressure on Taiwan, conducting daily air and naval patrols, as well as large-scale war games, to assert its sovereignty claims. Taiwan, however, rejects Beijing’s assertions, with newly elected President William Lai Ching-te declaring that only the people of Taiwan have the right to decide their own future.

Speaking earlier this week, President Lai described the Han Kuang drills as "large-scale, realistic combat drills" essential to strengthening Taiwan's deterrence capabilities. He affirmed that the exercises are meant to send a clear signal not only to China but also to the international community—especially the United States—that Taiwan is determined and prepared to defend itself.

Geopolitical Implications and Regional Watch

The HIMARS deployment is being closely monitored by regional military attachés, especially considering the weapon system's effective use by Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Nations like Australia have also procured HIMARS, underscoring the system’s growing role in modern asymmetrical warfare. The deployment marks a new level of military readiness for Taiwan, aligning it more closely with Western defense standards.

Despite being Taiwan’s primary defense supplier, the United States’ long-term military commitment remains uncertain. While U.S. law obliges Washington to treat threats to Taiwan with “grave concern,” questions persist over how far U.S. involvement would go in the event of a Chinese invasion—especially under shifting administrations.

In deploying one of the most sophisticated mobile artillery systems in the world during its largest-ever war games, Taiwan is not only testing its battlefield readiness but also sending a clear geopolitical message. The Han Kuang exercise—with its unscripted format, multi-domain operations, and advanced weapons systems like HIMARS—is a signal to both Beijing and Washington that Taiwan will not stand idly by in the face of rising threats.

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