China Warns Taiwan Independence Push Risks War over HIMARS Deployment

China on Tuesday warned that any move by Taiwan independence supporters to provoke conflict, including reported plans to deploy U.S.-supplied HIMARS rocket systems on outlying islands, would lead to “disastrous consequences.”

A Chinese defense spokesperson issued a sharp warning against Taiwan’s alleged military plans to forward-deploy High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Penghu and Dongyin islands in the Taiwan Strait.

Responding to a media query, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jiang Bin said that, “In the face of the People’s Liberation Army’s overwhelming strength, any attempt by ‘Taiwan independence’ forces to provoke war will lead to their own destruction.” He added that the thinking of separatist elements was becoming “increasingly absurd and overconfident,” warning that any forces daring to provoke conflict would “inevitably face annihilation.”

Taipei has purchased dozens of American-made HIMARS launchers as part of an arms package valued at about $11 billion, as per reports. Chinese officials argue that even the full delivery of these systems would remain marginal when measured against the mainland’s military capabilities.

Chinese media highlighted the vulnerability of Penghu, a flat archipelago covering about 126 square kilometers, arguing that any deployed launchers would be highly exposed to satellite, drone and radar surveillance, making them susceptible to long-range strikes using rocket artillery, ballistic missiles and air power.

China Urges U.S. Caution on Taiwan’s $39.6B Defense Budget Comments

The remarks came as another Chinese government body addressed reported U.S. statements on Taiwan’s defense spending. On Wednesday, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian urged Washington to act with caution on the Taiwan question after media reports said the U.S. State Department “welcomed” Taiwan’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion ($39.6 billion) special defense budget.

Zhu said, “Taiwan is China’s Taiwan, and resolving the Taiwan question is an internal affair of the Chinese people and brooks no interference from any external forces.” She added that Washington should “strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués,” stop sending what Beijing views as wrong signals to separatist forces, and cease interference in China’s internal affairs.