Taipei: According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwanese military fired the American-supplied high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) for the first time on Monday at a facility in Pingtung County. The 58th Artillery Command of the Taiwan Army conducted the exercise, which took place at the Jiupeng Base in Manjhou Township, according to Focus Taiwan.

It further said that the HIMARS may be outfitted with a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of up to 300 kilometers or a single pod that holds six 227mm rockets.

Eleven launch vehicles fired three rounds each, resulting in a total of 33 rockets launched. However, Focus Taiwan noted that the military did not provide any information on the success of the exercises.

According to Colonel Ho Chih-chung, deputy commander of the 58th Artillery, the US supplier also sent staff to the location to help with any technical difficulties that arose during the live-fire drill.

Focus Taiwan reports that the United States has sold 29 HIMARS to Taiwan, with the first delivery of 11 arriving in 2024.

The second batch of 18 HIMARS will be delivered next year rather than in 2027 as first intended, according to a Ministry of National Defense study that was presented to the Legislative Yuan in March.

Images of the HIMARS test-firing were also posted on X by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).

MND posted on X, “#HIMARS debuts in #Taiwan, showcasing rapid deployment and next-generation strike capabilities.” CNN previously reported that Taiwan’s primary ally and weaponry supplier is the United States.

According to Taiwan News, former US Indo-Pacific Command Chief Admiral Harry Harris stated earlier in April at the 50th anniversary event of the Pacific Forum that the United States needs to respond more explicitly to China’s growing pressure on Taiwan and its larger Indo-Pacific objectives.

Harris demanded that Washington end its long-standing practice of “strategic ambiguity” and explicitly state whether it would defend Taiwan in a cross-strait emergency.

Harris cited Beijing’s ongoing military buildup and antagonistic stance toward the self-governing island, saying, “China has made it abundantly clear it intends to isolate and seize Taiwan.” “We should be equally clear, and we should never allow China to dictate America’s foreign policy with regard to Taiwan.”

The long-running and intricate geopolitical dispute between China and Taiwan is centered on Taiwan’s sovereignty. Officially referred to as the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan functions as a de facto sovereign state with its own government, military, and economy.

The “One China” doctrine, which maintains that there is only one China with Beijing as its capital, is insisted upon by China, which views Taiwan as a renegade province.

Since the Chinese Civil War (1945–1949), when the ROC government fled to Taiwan after the Communist Party, headed by Mao Zedong, seized power in mainland China, this has exacerbated decades of hostility.

Beijing has continuously said that it wants to reunite with Taiwan and has isolated Taiwan on a global scale via diplomatic, economic, and military pressure.