Taiwan conducted its first live firing with a Haimars missile launcher purchased from the United States in order to strengthen its military capacity to defend against a possible attack by China, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA.
AFP journalists attended today the live firing with a Haimars launcher of the Taiwanese army at the “Jupeng“ base in Pingtung County, in the southern part of the country.
The first batch of Haimars missile launchers were delivered to Taiwan in November 2024.
These are launchers mounted on light armored vehicles that can launch several precisely guided missiles simultaneously. They were used by Ukraine against Russia in the ongoing conflict.
China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to use force to take control of the island.
Although it is significantly behind militarily, Taiwan has been buying American weapons and military equipment for decades as a deterrent against Beijing.
In 1979, Washington broke off diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing, but remains the main guarantor of Taiwan's security against China.
Over the past five decades, the United States has sold Taiwan billions of dollars worth of military equipment and ammunition, including F-16 fighter jets and warships, which has angered China, AFP notes.