Taiwan's military on Wednesday carried out a major drill using its newly acquired High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), demonstrating the weapon's ability to quickly fire and move away before enemy forces can respond. The exercise was aimed at simulating an attack on an invading Chinese force and highlighted Taiwan's efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities amid growing tensions with China.

The HIMARS system, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, has gained global attention for its performance in Ukraine's war with Russia. Taiwan has recently added the advanced rocket launcher to its military arsenal as part of a broader effort to modernise its armed forces and improve its ability to respond to potential threats.

China considers democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that it has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Chinese warships and military aircraft regularly operate around Taiwan, increasing concerns over regional security.

Taiwan had previously conducted its first HIMARS live-fire test on the island's east coast last year. However, Wednesday's exercise marked the first time the rocket system was fired on Taiwan's western coast. The drill took place in Taichung, a city located in central Taiwan. The western side of the island directly faces mainland China across the Taiwan Strait and is considered strategically important in any potential conflict.

Taiwan's military said the exercise was designed to showcase the mobility of the HIMARS system and its ability to carry out what is known as a "shoot-and-scoot" operation. This tactic allows the launcher to move quickly after firing, making it harder for enemy radar systems to detect and target it. Military officials said this significantly increases the system's chances of surviving during combat operations.

Speaking after the exercise, company commander Ko Ming-pin praised the performance of the weapon system and the troops operating it. He said, "Our HIMARS demonstrated the solid combat capabilities of the unit and successfully completed this training."

The HIMARS system has become one of Ukraine's most important long-range strike weapons during its conflict with Russia. Its success on the battlefield has made it a valuable addition to Taiwan's military planning.

Military analysts believe Taiwan's western coastline would be the most likely location for a Chinese landing operation in the event of an invasion. The region contains beaches and mud flats that could potentially be used by Chinese forces attempting to reach the island.

Taiwan has been focusing on developing an asymmetric warfare strategy. Instead of seeking military parity with China, Taiwan is placing bets on mobile, highly effective weapons that inflict significant damage and are difficult to destroy. The strategy is often described as turning Taiwan into a "porcupine" that would be difficult and costly to attack.

The HIMARS system has a range of around 300 kilometres, or about 190 miles. This means it can reach targets along China's southeastern Fujian province, which lies across the Taiwan Strait from Taiwan. The ability to strike targets at such distances is considered an important part of Taiwan's defence planning.

Taiwan plans to use the HIMARS launchers alongside its domestically developed Thunderbolt-2000 multiple rocket launch systems. Military officials say the combination would allow them to target Chinese forces as they leave ports or attempt to land along Taiwan's coastline.

The Thunderbolt-2000 launchers were also used during the military exercises. They were fired on Tuesday, the opening day of the drill, as part of the broader defence operation.

Taiwan's government continues to reject China's claims of sovereignty over the island. Officials maintain that only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine their future and decide the island's political status.