Amid a possible PLA invasion of Taiwan, China appears to have trained its guns on the HIMARS (High Mobility Attack Rocket System), the US-origin precision rocket system that has been Russia’s nemesis in the grinding Ukraine war.
In late December 2025, China launched its most extensive two-day war games around Taiwan, the self-ruled island state that Beijing has vowed to seize. Codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” the drills were described as a “stern warning” against “Taiwan independence” and involved coordinated operations by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force under the Eastern Theatre Command.
As part of these high-stakes drills, the PLA explicitly simulated strikes on Taiwan’s high-value land-based targets such as the HIMARS launchers.
The US-origin, precision strike weapon was singled out during the military drills, as seen in the broadcast run by the state-owned CCTV. In the footage, a Chinese soldier is seen declaring that target information on a system has been confirmed, which is then followed by a commander ordering long-range rockets to be fired immediately.
Additionally, the Chinese state media reportedly showed scenarios where PLA long-range rockets, such as the PCL-191, were fired after “confirming” HIMARS positions.
BREAKING; CHINA Singles Out HIMARS as 'Major Threat' Amid Live-Fire Drills Encircling TAIWAN
CHINA views HIMARS as a major threat due to their precision and ability to conduct "deep counterstrikes" against PLA rocket units, logistics bases, and coastal targets in Fujian… pic.twitter.com/HxacMWtxOs
— Global Surveillance (@Globalsurv) January 5, 2026
The PLA later said in a statement that it had “conducted long-range live fire drills in the waters to the north of the Taiwan Island and achieved desired effects.”
In addition, Chinese state media depicted PLA Navy and Coast Guard intercepting and boarding vessels suspected of shipping HIMARS systems to Taiwan. This aligned with the strategy of blockading key ports and shipping lanes in Taiwan to restrict external military assistance.
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi warned in a speech earlier that China would “forcefully counter” US weapons sales to Taiwan, adding that any attempt to obstruct China’s unification with the island “will inevitably end in failure.”
Notably, the latest US arms package for Taiwan, worth a whopping $11 billion, included 82 HIMARS and 420 ATACMS missiles.
It also includes the Tactical Mission Network (TMN), which creates a secure, distributed communication backbone that connects launchers to sensors and command centres, enabling rapid, resilient “sensor-to-shooter” targeting, moving beyond centralised command for faster decision-making, improved survivability against cyber threats, and integration with other forces.
Needless to say, Chinese signalling prioritises neutralising HIMARS early in a potential Taiwan contingency, as they are likely to pose a significant threat to PLA amphibious operations, supply lines, and rocket forces.
There is ample evidence to suggest that HIMARS could be in China’s “top” hit list, should it decide to launch an invasion.
For instance, in August 2025, images and videos of unmanned vehicle mock-ups resembling Taiwan’s M142 HIMARS launchers surfaced on Chinese social media and state-affiliated outlets. They were painted with camouflage patterns matching Taiwan’s HIMARS launchers and appeared shortly after Taiwan began integrating them.
These claims could not be independently verified, but we know that PLA training efforts will benefit from impersonating these vehicles in OPFOR (Opposing Force) exercises, adding more realism to visual spotting, vehicle identification, sensor targeting, and other aspects.
Additionally, some unverified reports went so far as to claim that the mock-up vehicles were equipped with infrared transmitters to replicate the thermal signature of the HIMARS launchers more accurately.
Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at the government-sponsored Institute for National Defence and Security Research (INDSR), cited by FocusTaiwan, calls HIMARS a significant threat because of its capability to conduct “deep counterstrikes” against PLA rocket units and logistics.
“They can be deployed against a PLA amphibious landing operation to strike enemy lines of communication behind the front lines, which would likely cause the operation to fail.”
The dispersed HIMARS could “shoot-and-scoot” to hit landing beaches, troop transports in the strait, or follow-on forces during an amphibious landing attempt, the experts stated.
The HIMARS can fire GMLRS (Guided Missile Launch Rocket System), which can hit targets over 70 kilometres away, and long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) can strike targets 300 kilometres away.
If placed on Taiwan’s offshore islands in the Taiwan Strait, the ATACMS could pose a threat to a large portion of China’s Fujian Province. The flight time for ATACMS to mainland targets is estimated at 7 minutes, comparable to PLA rocket flight times to Taiwan.
HIMARS can target PLA staging areas, ports of embarkation, assembly points, and logistics hubs in Fujian before forces cross the Taiwan Strait. This could delay or degrade invasion preparations, as amphibious assaults require concentrated forces vulnerable to precision strikes. Additionally, HIMARS can be used for “deep counterstrikes” against PLA long-range rocket batteries, command posts, or air defences.
Nitin J Ticku, a defense expert and editor of EurAsian Times, says: ATACMS-equipped HIMARS would pose a massive challenge to PLA invasion attempts, as it could be quickly readied for counterstrikes. While its ‘shoot-and-scoot’ capabilities will complicate real-time detection and targeting by China, the PLA’s surveillance and missile superiority means its survivability will depend on quick relocation, camouflage, and deception.
How HIMARS Horrified The Russians
HIMARS has been used with devastating effect by the Ukrainian military to strike Russian targets, deep and hard.
First deployed by Ukrainian forces in 2022, the HIMARS and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) eliminated Russia’s artillery superiority, demonstrating Ukraine’s ability to strike previously unreachable Russian targets such as ammo depots and command and control centres. They were also employed to strike Russian aircraft and troops.
At the time, the Russian forces that were caught off guard by the HIMARS onslaught and were forced to reduce shelling intensity in areas like Donbas and pull back about 70 to 80 kilometres away from the frontline.
Ukrainian forces used HIMARS to target critical infrastructure, including bridges, rail hubs, and convoys, which helped them isolate Russian units in areas like Kherson and disrupted supply chains. This, in fact, contributed to Ukraine’s successful 2022 counteroffensive in Kherson.
For months, Ukraine lobbied the US to supply the long-range ATACMS to cause additional blows to the Russian military. The Biden administration initially hesitated, citing concerns over escalation and the strain on US stockpiles; however, it later relented and finally delivered a limited number of ATACMS to Ukraine.
The impact was immediate and profound.
The long-range missiles fired from the HIMARS launchers were used to eliminate command centres, air defence systems, electronic warfare units, and even helicopters.
The ATACMS’s success in Ukraine stemmed from several key attributes. Its GPS-guided precision allowed Ukraine to target critical infrastructure with minimal collateral damage, while its range enabled deep strikes.
Additionally, with its ability to “shoot and scoot,” it could fire an ATACMS and relocate before Russian forces could respond, frustrating Moscow’s attempts to neutralise the threat.
After the US lifted the restrictions on hitting targets inside Russia in 2024, the Ukrainian troops used the ATACMS-HIMARS combination to hit troop concentrations and staging areas inside Russia, forcing it to adapt by improving dispersal, electronic jamming, and prioritising hunts for launchers.
Electronic warfare, jamming, and the introduction of other cutting-edge long-range strike systems have pushed HIMARS out of the public eye. Additionally, ammo shortages have limited its efficacy. However, it is safe to say that HIMARS continues to be a crucial weapon in Ukraine’s war with Russia and could be a headache for invading Chinese troops.
- Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari13 (at) outlook.com
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