PLA rocket artillery can strike all of Taiwan, expert says

The strike range of the People's Liberation Army's long-range, box-shaped rocket artillery is sufficient to cover the entire island of Taiwan, a military expert said.

During the "Justice Mission 2025" military exercises that began on Monday, ground forces of the PLA Eastern Theater Command deployed long-range, box-shaped rocket launchers in joint firepower strikes with the Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force in waters north and south of Taiwan, according to the theater command.

Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, said the system is designed to deliver both wide-area firepower coverage and precision strikes against key targets.

The box-shaped rocket launcher can be fitted with different ammunition modules, allowing flexible adjustments in target types and strike ranges, Meng said.

"The long-range rocket artillery has a maximum range of several hundred kilometers and is fully capable of covering the entire island of Taiwan," he added.

Video footage released by the theater command on Tuesday showed live-fire drills striking all designated targets in waters south of Taiwan.

Meng described the weapon system as highly mobile and flexible, saying it "can choose how, when and where to strike."

He said the module, mounted on a truck chassis and integrating storage, transport and launch functions, significantly shortens reloading time.

"In addition to its flexibility, the long-range rocket launcher is relatively low-cost and can be independently mass-produced without supply constraints," Meng said.

According to Meng, the primary objectives of the long-range rocket artillery strikes were to impose a blockade on the island and cut off key energy supply links.

"There were two main targets: in the north, the political center of the 'Taiwan independence' forces and major ports; and in the south, military ports and key sea lanes, which are also strongholds of 'Taiwan independence' ideology," he said. He added the strikes were directed at "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

The long-range, box-shaped rocket artillery was also deployed during the "Strait Thunder-2025A" military exercises held in the Taiwan Strait in April.

"It has been deeply integrated into our military's modernized operational system and has become an important tool for striking 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," Meng said.