Taipei: China has underscored the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) acquired by Taiwan from the United States as a key threat during its recent extensive military exercises. These precision weapons were emphasized for their capability to execute "deep counterstrikes" on People's Liberation Army (PLA) rocket units and logistical operations, as noted by military experts.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Chinese military conducted these exercises in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan from December 29 to December 31, with live-fire drills taking place on December 30 in the Taiwan Strait. This military activity resulted in the cancellation of all 84 flights between Taiwan and its outlying Kinmen and Matsu islands, along with delays to hundreds of international flights affecting over 100,000 passengers.
China's state-run broadcaster CCTV highlighted HIMARS during the drills, reporting that target data on these systems had been verified, leading to a commander ordering immediate long-range rocket fire. Additionally, the China Coast Guard released an image showing a vessel intercepting a shipment of HIMARS on an Evergreen Marine freighter, which was perceived as a reaction to recent U.S. seizures of oil tankers linked to China.
Military experts have expressed concerns about China's focus on HIMARS. Su Tzu-yun from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) noted that HIMARS, with an error margin of about 10 meters, are suitable for counterstrikes and could disrupt PLA amphibious landings by targeting communication lines behind the front lines. This concern is heightened by a recent U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, which includes 82 HIMARS and 420 M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, significantly expanding Taiwan's capabilities.
Yang Tai-yuan, chairman of the Secure Taiwan Association Corporation, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that HIMARS poses a genuine threat to China. With a range of 300 kilometers, ATACMS missiles could target much of China's Fujian Province if deployed on Taiwan's offshore islands.
Another INDSR researcher, Kao Chih-jung, pointed out that HIMARS, equipped with ATACMS, offer Taiwan a rapid counterstrike capability, able to reach targets in China within minutes. This makes them more efficient than other missile systems and less risky than deploying fighter jets for air-to-surface attacks. Kao highlighted the HIMARS systems and the Tactical Mission Network (TMN) software as pivotal elements of the U.S. arms package, facilitating faster intelligence sharing and enabling synchronized operations with Taiwan's air defense systems.
Despite their strengths, HIMARS are not without vulnerabilities. Yang warned that if the PLA has obtained information on HIMARS locations, it suggests potential exposure of bases or operating sites. He advised Taiwan's military to frequently change HIMARS deployment sites and enhance camouflage measures to avoid detection by Chinese satellites.
Drawing from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Su cautioned that while HIMARS has been effective against Russian forces, they remain susceptible to satellite interference. Kao suggested that Taiwan should push the U.S. to sell it Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) with a range of up to 500 kilometers to better suit its defense needs.