A classified US military intelligence report seen by the ABC says China is rapidly building up the country’s commercial ferry fleet to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan.

The report dates from earlier this year and was prepared by members of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for the Pentagon.

The US intelligence says the large ocean-going vessels have been modified to carry tanks and partake in amphibious operations.

China is building more than 70 of the large vessels by the end of 2026.

  • Dr. Moose@lemmy.worldOP
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    2 days ago

    Seems like it’s becoming more and more clear that the real reason China support ruzis is to weaken the resistance to their attack on Taiwan.

    • rockerface🇺🇦@lemmy.cafe
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      2 days ago

      And set up a precedent that in the modern world you can still just walk into a place with an army and call it yours. Or, well, that was the plan for “Kyiv in 3 days”

      • Dr. Moose@lemmy.worldOP
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        2 days ago

        Exactly, the borders were very much set for decades now (with few exceptions). Then, ruzis took Crimea and what do we have here - anexation is back on the menu.

        China is also dealing with record youth unemployment of almost 20% - you know what gets people quickly employed? A bit of good ol’ war

      • AxExRx@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I think its a win for them no matter how things play out- either Russia’s strategy works, and precedence gets set, and china is free to threaten nukes to anyone ‘butting in’ to their war to capture Taiwan, Russia fails, overextends, and becomes a vassal state to China, or the war metasticizes in to a world war, and they snap up whatever they want in Asia while the west’s is occupied with other fronts (like Europe and Midle east)

    • Kyden Fumofly@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Professor Hu Bo conceded the satellite intelligence could be connected to Taiwan.

      “Every capability can be connected to a Taiwan scenario, but China can be very patient,” he said.

      "We can wait many years for a peaceful solution. I think the US has exaggerated China’s intentions.

      “I think the main reason China is strengthening its navy is very simple. It’s because of the US military threat.”