Taiwan Fires US‑Supplied HIMARS Rockets in First Live‑Fire Drill Facing China

On June 10‑11, 2026 Taiwan conducted its first live‑fire exercise with the US‑made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on the western coast, firing 36 reduced‑range rockets into the Taiwan Strait. The drills, staged near the Dajia River estuary in Taichung, simulated a rapid "shoot‑and‑scoot" response to a possible Chinese amphibious invasion, testing mobility, precision‑strike capability and coordination with 155 mm howitzers.

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." The rockets landed in the water a short distance offshore, demonstrating the system’s ability to strike coastal landing zones and then relocate before counter‑battery fire.

The exercise is part of broader cross‑strait tension, with Beijing repeatedly stating its intent to reunify Taiwan by force if necessary. The United States, Taiwan’s main arms supplier, has recently approved additional HIMARS launchers, though the larger package appears delayed after a high‑level US‑China meeting. The drill underscores a strategic shift toward asymmetric warfare, aiming to offset China’s numerical superiority and reassure domestic and international audiences of Taiwan’s defensive readiness.