Reports suggest that China is constructing barges reminiscent of D-Day as tensions over Taiwan invasion escalate.
The dispute over sovereignty between China and Taiwan, a crucial US ally in the Indo-Pacific region, has led to rising tensions in recent years.
According to media reports, China is reportedly constructing a fleet of "D-Day style" barges that could potentially assist in an invasion of Taiwan.
According to Naval News, three new craft have been observed at Guangzhou Shipyard in southern China.
The "Mulberry harbours," portable harbors constructed for the Allied campaign in Normandy, France, in 1944, served as inspiration for the barges, according to The Telegraph.
Beijing's refusal to recognize Taiwan's independence has kept tensions between China and Taiwan high, despite the island nation being a key U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
At least three barges, possibly more, were observed in China's Guangzhou Shipyard last week, according to Naval News. These barges, measuring over 390 feet, can be utilized to access a coastal road or hard surface beyond a beach.
In his New Year's address, Chinese leader Xi Jinping stated that the reunification of Taiwan is inevitable.
On CCTV, China's state broadcaster, he stated that the individuals on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of the same family. No one can break the family ties, and no one can halt the historical trend towards national reunification.
The report stated that Chinese forces could utilize barges to land in areas previously deemed unsuitable for landing, such as rocky or soft terrain, and beaches where tanks and other heavy equipment can be delivered to firmer ground or a coastal road.
"According to Emma Salisbury, a sea power research fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, any invasion of Taiwan from the mainland would necessitate a significant number of ships to transport personnel and equipment across the strait rapidly, particularly land assets such as armored vehicles. To prepare for an invasion or to give China leverage, she expects to see a build-up of ship construction capable of accomplishing this transportation."
The Department of Defense, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington have been contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital.
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