26 02 2025

The following text is an excerpt from an article in the Magazine “THE DIPLOMAT”.

Beijing’s modernization of its amphibious capabilities has taken a significant step forward with the development of new special barges. Built by Guangzhou Shipyard International on Longxue Island, these specialized barges aim to enhance the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s beach-landing and logistics operations. Integrating civilian roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) technology, the special barges reflect China’s evolving civil-military fusion strategy. Designed to deploy heavy equipment directly onto coastal roads, these vessels improve the PLA’s maritime transport capacity and enable flexible multi-point landings that bypass traditional coastal defenses.

The traditional assumption has been that China would need to seize a few well-known beaches on Taiwan’s western coast. The special barges could upend that calculus. By allowing landings at multiple less-defended points – including rocky coastlines or river estuaries – these barges complicate Taiwan’s defensive planning and increase the likelihood of a successful amphibious incursion.

China’s doctrine of civil-military fusion is evident in its dual-use fleet. Ro-Ro ferries, though built for commercial purposes, can also carry tanks, heavy equipment, and other supplies enabling rapid military conversion. Analysis points out that China has issued technical standards for civilian vessels to ensure they meet national defense needs.

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