China's port-ship maneuvers signal increased Taiwan threat
The Chinese have started military maneuvers at sea. They are using ships in the exercises that are the size of floating ports. This fleet enables an unprecedented scale of landing operations. By using these units, Beijing could quickly take control of Taiwan and the entire South China Sea basin.
China organized maneuvers for the first time using ships that resemble floating ports. The units are huge. They range from about 110 to 185 metres in length. They are equipped with an extendable road bridge that allows for quick connection of the ship with the land. The length of such a bridge is up to 140 metres.
The Telegraph cites experts who point out that these bridges can be connected. This way, they can create an effective crossing with a total length of up to even 1 kilometre.
The construction of specialist barges like this is one of the indicators defense analysts watching to provide early warning of a potential invasion, writes maritime and underwater forces expert H.I. Sutton in Naval News. This expert first noticed the impressive fleet.
Tanks, combat vehicles, and weapons can be transported on the ships. The transport of heavy equipment is potentially the biggest problem for the Chinese in a military invasion of Taiwan. The maneuvers aim to help Beijing resolve this issue.
The Chinese are hiding maneuvers. They do not boast about the ships
Although some experts point out that the slow units would be an easy target for aviation, they also note that China's advantage in the South China Sea is growing. This type of fleet could enable Beijing to take control of the entire area.
Unofficial recordings and photos from the maneuvers have appeared online. Beijing does not admit to having a fleet of “port-ships.” The materials from the exercises were immediately removed from Chinese social media. The maneuvers took place from the end of January to mid-March.
