China has unveiled a new fleet of landing barges, signaling a significant advancement in its military capabilities under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. These barge-like Shuqiao ships, designed to transport tanks and heavy armored vehicles across the Taiwan Strait, form a pivotal element of China's military buildup. The development has sparked concerns over China's intentions toward Taiwan, highlighting the potential for future conflict.
The Shuqiao ships were first observed during their construction phase in January. Recently, they were filmed at a public beach in Guangdong province, revealing their operational readiness. The filmer stood discreetly by some fishing boats as a few tourists strolled nearby, capturing footage that illustrates the ships' strategic purpose.
"These bridge-barges are purpose-built for a Taiwan invasion scenario," said Andrew Erickson, a professor of strategy at the China Maritime Studies Institute.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is undergoing one of the most significant military expansions since World War II, with shipbuilding as a key component. The PLA already boasts the world's largest navy, and the addition of these new barges enhances its amphibious capabilities. The Shuqiao ships were escorted by at least two civilian vessels from a nearby dock, and several other boats, including those marked as fishing vessels, sailed behind the ships, seemingly practicing interference maneuvers.
The ships carry amphibious vehicles on their decks and possess the ability to create a loading dock almost a kilometer out to sea. This feature is crucial for potential operations across the Taiwan Strait, allowing for rapid deployment of military assets. At least three more such barges are either under construction or in early testing stages, underscoring the speed and scale of China's ship production capabilities.
"They can produce the ships really fast – four to six months – and get them into theatre," stated Jason Wang, chief executive of Ingenispace, a geospatial analysis company.
"They embody the seriousness with which China under Xi is pursuing absorption of Taiwan by any means possible," added Professor Erickson.
Jason Wang further remarked on China's innovation in shipbuilding, noting their ability to iterate improvements rapidly. These advancements reflect China's strategic creativity in military technology.
"The ships were a clear sign of China's 'creativity'," Wang commented.
The presence of these barges has not gone unnoticed by regional observers. Yu Pei-chen, a former army major general turned city councillor, suggested an aggressive stance towards Taiwan.
"China should build more barges of the same kind and send them to Taiwan. That would save the ammo for our armed forces," Yu suggested.