China prepares civilian vessels for possible invasion of Taiwan
27 May 2024 21:33
Beijing is considering using car ferries and other civilian vessels to transport troops and armoured vehicles in the event of an invasion of Taiwan. This is stated by security experts, according to "Komersant Ukrainian" reports with reference to The Telegraph.
As the People’s Liberation Army of China does not have enough landing craft, it could use giant car ferries to transport hundreds of armoured vehicles. Such a move would compensate for the lack of specialised landing craft, experts say.
Ray Powell of Stanford University notes that civilian vessels are usually poorly suited for amphibious operations, but they could be used for a large-scale ferrying of troops across the Taiwan Strait after the destruction of the island’s coastal defences.
For several years now, China has been preparing to use its ferries for military purposes as part of the concept of “civil-military fusion”, whereby the private sector is integrated into the state’s military policy. State media regularly cover the participation of ferries in amphibious landing exercises.
Experts estimate that the use of civilian vessels could radically increase the tonnage of military cargo that China can transfer to Taiwan. This will allow up to 300,000 military personnel and equipment to be transported in 10 days.
This approach complicates defence planning against a potential invasion, as it is difficult to discern whether the movement of a civilian vessel is preparatory to war. Nevertheless, Beijing’s intentions to seize Taiwan by military force are evident amid an intensified pressure campaign against the island.
In particular, last week China conducted large-scale “punitive” military exercises off the coast of Taiwan in response to the inauguration of the island’s new president. Beijing considers democratic Taiwan to be part of its territory and does not rule out forceful annexation.
Taiwan has a much smaller armed forces compared to China, but counts on the difficult terrain and the 177 km wide strait as natural barriers. However, analysts warn that in the event of a conflict, the island would face a large-scale military invasion involving the Chinese civilian navy.
