Recent media reports indicate that China is constructing a fleet of “D-Day style” barges aimed at facilitating a potential invasion of Taiwan.
At least three of these new vessels have been spotted at the Guangzhou Shipyard in southern China, as reported by Naval News.
These barges draw inspiration from the World War II “Mulberry harbours,” which were portable harbors utilized during the Allied campaign in Normandy, France, in 1944, according to The Telegraph.
Tensions between China and Taiwan, a strategic U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific region, have escalated due to Beijing’s refusal to acknowledge Taiwan’s independence.
Naval News reported last week that at least three, and likely five or more, barges have been seen at China’s Guangzhou Shipyard. These vessels, measuring over 390 feet, are designed to facilitate access to coastal roads or solid surfaces beyond beach areas.
In a recent New Year’s message, Chinese President Xi Jinping asserted that “reunification” with Taiwan is inevitable.
TRUMP CABINET PICKS DELIGHT TAIWAN, SEND STRONG SIGNAL TO CHINA
He emphasized, “The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. No one can sever our family bonds, and no one can halt the historical trend of national reunification,” during an address on CCTV, China’s state broadcaster.
Utilizing these barges, Chinese military forces could land in areas previously deemed unsuitable, such as rocky or soft terrains, and beaches where tanks and other heavy equipment could be delivered to more stable ground or coastal roads.
Emma Salisbury, a sea power research fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, noted, “Any invasion of Taiwan from the mainland would necessitate a considerable number of ships to transport personnel and equipment across the strait rapidly, especially land assets like armored vehicles. As preparation for an invasion, or at least to provide China with leverage, I would anticipate an increase in the construction of ships capable of facilitating this transport.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Defense, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, also located in Washington.
