Taiwan Fired HIMARS Rockets Toward China For The First Time
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The country has demonstrated its resolve to Beijing and Washington.
For the first time in its history, Taiwan has conducted live-fire tests using U.S.-made HIMARS mobile rocket systems into strategic waters bordering China. In doing so, the country has demonstrated its resolve to both Beijing and Washington.
This is reported by The Wall Street Journal, whose journalists were on the scene in Taichung.
What is known about Taiwan’s military exercises?
Previous live-fire exercises were often conducted at a remote range off Taiwan’s southeastern coast, which faces the Pacific Ocean.
The launches on Wednesday, June 10, took place near a river mouth on Taiwan’s west coast, which was considered a potential landing point for a Chinese invasion.
The Taiwanese military explained that it wanted to make its training more realistic.
“The best way to practice live-fire exercises is right in the area you have to defend,” said Chou Yu-ping, a retired colonel in the Taiwanese Air Force.
This time, the tests were limited in range, targeting sites less than 11 kilometers from the coast. But Taiwan has missiles for the HIMARS system that are capable of reaching mainland China.
What signals was Taiwan sending?
These exercises were the culmination of two days of military drills demonstrating Taiwan’s preparedness to counter an amphibious invasion.
“This is a signal to the Chinese that they will face a heavy blow if they try to cross the strait, and as a result will have far fewer ships than they started with,” said Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel who served in several posts in the Indo-Pacific region.
Such exercises also serve as a signal to Washington that Taiwan is committed to defending itself and wants American support. In particular, the country is hoping for a $14 billion arms package, which is currently on hold.
Donald Trump has refrained from approving this aid, pressuring his administration to maintain a conciliatory tone toward Beijing.
In May, following a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Trump stated that he considered the package “a very good bargaining chip” in negotiations with China. At that time, Xi made it clear that he opposed the sale of American weapons to Taiwan.
After meeting with Xi, Trump stated that he planned to speak with the president of Taiwan. The media reported that this put relations with China at risk.
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