Chinese military exercises held in August this year showed that Beijing is likely preparing a flotilla of civilian vessels to support a possible amphibious assault on Taiwan.
This is reported in a Reuters article.
Journalists analyzed satellite images and data from ship tracking services. They showed that the Chinese military is considering using civilian vessels to invade Taiwan. Such an operation, if carried out, could exceed the scale of the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944.
In mid-August, China conducted an exercise involving 12 civilian vessels: six ferries and six cargo ships. They departed from several ports on the Yellow Sea coast and headed south to the coast of Guangdong province. Upon reaching their destination, they began unloading military equipment directly onto the unequipped shore using a ramp.
A number of experts told Reuters that China's use of civilian vessels demonstrates a significant development in the Chinese army's efforts. It significantly increases the ability to deliver military equipment needed for the first wave of the attack.
Experts also noted that the Chinese military used a system of temporary berths during the exercise. The last time these systems were used was in 2023. Because of this, experts suggested that they could have been abandoned due to technical problems. Satellite images showed that these systems are being used again. They allow large vessels to moor in the open sea and unload equipment on unequipped beaches.
Although the Chinese army has a significant number of specialized warships, experts believe that for the invasion to be successful, Beijing will need to land 300,000 to a million soldiers on Taiwan. This will require additional funds.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in October this year, the Japanese edition of the Sankei Shimbun wrote with reference to satellite images, that in China built copies of Taiwanese government buildings to practice actions to seize them.
We also wrote that China has asked for help from the aggressor country russia in its alleged preparations for an attack on Taiwan. Beijing ordered the training and equipment of an airborne battalion, which is likely to be used during the invasion of the island.
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