The construction of a new fleet of D-Day-style landing barges in China has raised significant concerns regarding Beijing’s potential intentions toward Taiwan.
Recent satellite imagery has identified the emergence of three to five new “special and unusual” barges at the Guangzhou Shipyard, located in southern China.
Typically, such barges are commonplace at various riverside and coastal construction projects.
However, the characteristics of these specific barges, situated at a dual-use civilian-military construction facility, do not align with the expected standard.
Naval analyst H. I. Sutton notes that these barges bear a resemblance to the Mulberry Harbours, which were essential for the Allied invasion during World War II.
This development warrants close attention, considering the strategic implications it may have for regional stability.
The construction of specialized barges serves as a significant indicator for defense analysts who are vigilant in monitoring early signs of a potential invasion.
While it’s conceivable that these vessels could be justified on a civilian basis, the sheer scale and number of these barges—vastly exceeding the dimensions of typical commercial ships—makes such explanations less credible.
The diversity in design among these barges further undermines the idea of a standard commercial order.
They are uniquely engineered for the rapid transport of substantial quantities of heavy equipment onto land, suggesting they are far more than just civilian craft.
China is building at least five new special purpose barges which appear tailor made for amphibious assault. The barges may provide the PRC with a unique way to offload large numbers of tanks directly onto Taiwanese roads 🇨🇳 🇹🇼
By @CovertShores https://t.co/Je3K6BT3jG— Naval News (@navalnewscom) January 10, 2025
Dr. Emma Salisbury, a Sea Power Research Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, emphasizes to Naval News that “Any invasion of Taiwan from the mainland would necessitate a considerable fleet of ships, capable of swiftly ferrying troops and heavy equipment across the Strait, particularly land assets like armored vehicles.”
These modular piers, with their specific design characteristics, appear exceptionally tailored for facilitating an invasion scenario.
Dr. Salisbury elaborates, suggesting that we should anticipate an uptick in the construction of such vessels as part of a strategic buildup intended for invasion readiness or as leverage in negotiations.
Notably, Damien Symon, a respected defense analyst, observed that these barges are ideally designed to dock with China’s extensive fleet of civilian ferries.
These ferries, classified as roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessels, are built specifically to transport military vehicles, including heavy main battle tanks, and are regularly utilized in this capacity.
Dr. Salisbury concurs, noting, “China is in the process of constructing a vast fleet of dual-use ships—commercial vessels that can be swiftly repurposed for military operations when the situation demands.
This category notably includes RORO ships, which are particularly well-suited for the transport of military vehicles and have been constructed with military specifications in mind.”
So, where does it say Taiwan is a separate country? Where does it say that anywhere in the world? Even Taiwan?