China's new naval strategy: Floating ports raise Taiwan tensions
The Chinese have commenced military manoeuvres at sea, utilising ships that are the size of floating docks. This fleet enables an unprecedented scale of landing operations. By employing these units, Beijing could swiftly seize control over Taiwan and the entire South China Sea region.
China organised manoeuvres for the first time using ships that resemble floating ports. The ships are enormous, measuring between approximately 110 metres and 185 metres in length. They are equipped with extendable road bridges that allow for quick connection between the ship and the shore. The length of such a bridge can extend to roughly 140 metres.
The Telegraph cites experts who highlight that these bridges can be connected. In this way, they can form an effective crossing with a total length of up to around 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 was the first to notice the impressive fleet.
Tanks, combat vehicles, and weapons can be transported on the ships. The transport of heavy equipment is potentially the biggest challenge for the Chinese in a military invasion of Taiwan. The manoeuvres aim to help Beijing address this issue.
The Chinese are concealing manoeuvres. They do not boast about the ships
Some experts note that these slow-moving units could be easy targets for aviation; however, they also observe that China's advantage in the South China Sea is growing. This type of fleet could enable Beijing to take control of the entire region.
Unofficial recordings and photos from the manoeuvres have surfaced online. Beijing does not acknowledge possessing a fleet of “port-ships.” Footage from the exercises was immediately removed from Chinese social media. The manoeuvres took place from the end of January to mid-March.
