Taiwan Says Received First Batch of HIMARS From US

Taiwan has received its first batch of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the United States, Taipei’s defense ministry said Wednesday, as the island races to boost its defenses against a potential Chinese attack.

Washington has long been Taipei’s most important ally and biggest arms supplier — angering Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its own territory.

In 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.

HIMARS, a truck-mounted unit that can launch multiple precision-guided rockets at the same time, have been used by Ukraine against Russia in their ongoing conflict.