China's Special Barges Raise Concerns Over Taiwan Invasion Plans

China is developing special-purpose barges, causing alarm among analysts about potential plans to invade Taiwan. These barges, built at Guangzhou Shipyard International on Longxue Island, are designed to quickly deploy troops and equipment to Taiwan, overcoming the island's challenging waters. The flat-bottomed barges can carry heavy military cargo and unload without port infrastructure. They feature long road bridges to reach coastal roads, aiding the offloading of trucks and tanks. Some barges have 'jack-up' pillars for stability in rough seas, ensuring operations continue in adverse weather.

Chieh Chung, a research fellow at Taiwan's Association of Strategic Foresight, noted China's two-decade effort to improve 'pier-free unloading' capabilities. Previous methods faced challenges in rough seas, but the new barges operate closer to shore, using road bridges' pillar support to counteract conditions. Michael Hunzeker from George Mason University highlighted that these developments show Beijing's serious intentions regarding Taiwan, suggesting China views force as an option to annex Taiwan, which it considers its territory.