Faced with the Chinese threat, Taiwan deploys its HIMARS in a spectacular defense exercise

Taiwan's military conducted live-fire exercises Wednesday with its new HIMARS rocket systems, mobile, US-made equipment widely used on the battlefield in Ukraine. The exercise aimed to simulate a response to a potential Chinese invasion and to demonstrate the island's defense capabilities.

Organized in the Taichung region, the exercise highlighted the "shoot and retreat" tactic, which involves launching rapid strikes before changing position to avoid enemy counterattacks. This strategy is considered essential against an adversary with significant surveillance and strike capabilities.

The HIMARS systems, renowned for their mobility and precision, are an important element in strengthening Taiwan's military capabilities. Their effectiveness was amply demonstrated during the conflict in Ukraine, where they were used to strike strategic targets at long range.

The exercise comes amid persistent tensions between Taiwan and China. Beijing considers the democratically governed island to be part of its territory and regularly affirms its desire to achieve reunification, including by force if necessary.

In recent years, the Chinese military has intensified its activities around Taiwan. Chinese fighter jets and warships operate almost daily near the island, fueling concerns among Taiwanese authorities about the risk of military escalation.

Faced with this increasing pressure, Taiwan is continuing to modernize its armed forces and is relying on mobile and difficult-to-neutralize systems to strengthen its deterrent capability. The missile tests conducted on Wednesday illustrate this strategy aimed at complicating any potential military operation against the island.