Jiu-jitsu, Taiwan
Reuters
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Taiwan was first tested a new US-supplied rocket system that was widely used by Ukraine against Russia on Monday for the first time, and could be deployed to reach targets in China if there was a war with Taiwan.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important arms supplier despite its lack of formal diplomatic relations. Taiwan is facing an increase in military pressure from China, including several war games, as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty over the island.
Taiwan purchased Lockheed Martin’s 29 precision weapons high mobility artillery rocket system, or horsepower. The first batch was received last year, with the rest expected to arrive by next year.
At approximately 300km (186 miles), if a conflict arises, it could cause a collision to a coastal target in Fujian Province, southern China, on the other side of the Taiwan Strait.
The US-trained Taiwanese military team fired the Rockets from the Jupen Test Center, located in a remote location on the Pacific coast.
Officer Ho hsiang-Yih said the manufacturer’s US personnel are on the ground to tackle the issue.
“I believe that the fire of this rocket shows our people’s determination to protect the country’s safety and protect our beautiful homeland,” he added.
One of Ukraine’s main strike systems, the Himars has been used multiple times during the war with Russia. In March, Australia said it had received the first two of its 42 Hima Launcher vehicles.
The test came the day after Taiwan said it had detected another “joint combat preparedness patrol” by Chinese troops near the island and another “joint combat preparedness patrol” that included fighter jets and warships.
Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects claims of Chinese sovereignty, saying that only the people of the island can decide their future.
