China ferry fleet built amid Taiwan invasion preparations, classified report warns
www.abc.net.au
A classified US intelligence report, seen by the ABC, says vessels have been modified to carry tanks and partake in amphibious operations in what Taiwan considers part of China's "expansionist intentions".

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.worldOPEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    Yes they could take anyone else and install a puppet ruler. Tibet much?

    I don’t think China can take Taiwan through economic means. Taiwan is just too different from China and I say that as someone whos visited both several times (Taiwan is amazing btw). Despite shared language the cultures and people’s have very different identities and most importantly different goals, education profiles and alliances. Taiwan is as far from China as Ukraine is from Russia if not more.

    The reason why China is supporting Russia because how similar Ukraine-Russia relationship is to their Taiwan problem. If you check out Chinese media you can see the experiments China is running and seeing what sticks and “zelenskyy is a war mongerer” is so successful that even remote peasants are full on it. Much more effective than any economic or cultural propaganda. I have no doubt China would love to use something like that for Taiwan and you need some form of physical war to get that.

    Either way I certainly hope I’m wrong and you’re right. I live almost full time in south east asia now and war with Taiwan would have devastating effects on the region. I’d take economic influence over that any time especially because SEA keeps showing up being able to resist Chinese attacks again and again despite taking China’s money every time.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      1 day ago

      Tibet much?

      A region that’s been part of China for longer than Delaware has been a part of the United States.

      Hell, the revolt against the Llama started in Tibet in 1949, when the Kashag dictatorship attempted a pogrom against all ethnic Chinese locals.

      Tibet might have even more autonomy than it does now (and it’s got more internal freedom from Beijing than any American Commonwealth could ask from DC), if the old guard hadn’t tried to do an ethnic purge.

      I don’t think China can take Taiwan through economic means

      I guess we’ll see what happens following the next Wall Street crash. But when the AI bubble pops, that’s going to be hell on Taiwan’s most lucrative export.

      The reason why China is supporting Russia because how similar Ukraine-Russia relationship is to their Taiwan problem.

      You’ve pickled yourself with right wing propaganda. If Taiwan has any kind of peer relationship, it would be between the US and Cuba. Except China isn’t trying to suffocate Taiwan with an embargo.

      But China and Taiwan haven’t been in a low grade shooting war for over a decade. Neither does Taiwan have a NATO equivalent that its threatening to join. And Taiwan isn’t in the process of arresting and deporting Chinese nationals in bulk (not that the more reactionary Taiwanese natives wouldn’t like to try).

      you need some form of physical war to get that

      You don’t need a physical war for Chinese loyalists to become the wealthiest residents of the island, as was the case in Hong Kong and is increasingly the case in Singapore.

      That is the ultimate path to unification. China’s massive economic position will be used to buy out whatever remains of Taiwan’s Cold Warrior class.

      The gapping hole in the Capitalist’s armor is the fact that everything is for sale, including sovereignty.