Beijing warns of ‘annihilation’ over Taiwan ATACMS deployment idea

Beijing has warned of “annihilation” for any forces in Taiwan that attempt to use US-supplied missile systems to launch preemptive strikes against mainland China.

The threat follows media reports claiming that the administration of the self-governing Chinese island is considering deploying HIMARS launchers armed with ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles on islets closer to the mainland than Taiwan.

On Tuesday, Chinese military spokesman Jiang Bin criticized the idea of forward deployment and suggested that speculation about such systems being used to attack China was “increasingly absurd and overconfident.” He said such notions were propagated by elements advocating for Taiwan’s formal independence, warning they risk provoking a war and would “suffer certain annihilation” if a conflict arises.

Taipei has ordered 82 M142 HIMARS systems and 420 ATACMS munitions under an $11.1 billion arms sale package announced by the US government last December. The ballistic missiles have a range of 300 km, meaning their deployment to the Penghu and Dongyin islands would enable them to target large coastal areas. The potential threat posed by HIMARS systems was underscored in Chinese media coverage of a naval exercise conducted near Taiwan in late December.

Taiwan’s de facto autonomy originates from its status as the last refuge of nationalist forces defeated in the 1940s Chinese civil war. Beijing seeks peaceful reunification but warns that any move toward a formal declaration of independence by Taipei will be met with military force.

Chinese officials regard US arms supplies to Taiwan as a destabilizing element in cross-strait relations, arguing that they encourage pro-independence factions to engage in increasingly risky behavior.