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
    72·
    1 month ago

    This is a bit more than a contingency plan no? No other country does this that isnt in active war like russia-ukraine or the Koreas. Does India have 100 ships parked at Sri Lanka? Japan at Russia or same Taiwan?

    • Socialism_Everyday@reddthat.comEnglish
      43·
      1 month ago

      The US has military bases and ships parked in Taiwan, South Korea, Phillipines and Japan, and regularly patrols ships in the Taiwan strait. Surely this is only for defensive purposes? I wonder, why would China have amphibian ships given these circumstances? Would you find it weird for, say, the US to have amphibian training exercises if Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Guatemala had Russian troops stationed and there were Russian military ships in the strait between Cuba and Florida?