In recent days, the clearest images of the new barges that the Chinese Armed Forces would deploy in potential coastal assaults have been unveiled on social media. These appear to be large temporary piers capable of connecting with other vessels involved in the assault and deploying self-elevating supports to ensure stability. This development raises alarms in Taiwan, where the Asian Giant seems to be focusing its efforts on developing such platforms, as well as conducting frequent military exercises.
Specifically, the video footage shows a total of three barges deployed on the beaches of the Zhanjiang region, interconnected with each other and linked by what appears to be a ramp extending to the shore. Additionally, the images align with observations made by analysts from the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) based on satellite photographs of the Guangzhou International Shipyard (GSI) on Longxue Island, where the three platforms were previously being built and where four more can still be seen.
It is interesting to highlight at this point that the arrangement of the barges, as described, is also a novelty in itself, considering that previous reports indicated that their use would be in individual deployments; images dated from January seemed to confirm this. Speculating on the benefits it implies, it is notable that this formation would allow the Chinese Navy to have a pier extending approximately 850 meters into the sea, which would facilitate the connection of deeper-draft cargo ships to the structure and thus reduce the number of vessels needed to transport the same cargo.
Additionally, referring to the previously mentioned self-elevating supports of the barges, it should be noted that these would provide greater resistance to hostile weather, including strong winds and waves. This highlights significant differences compared to the floating pier deployed by the U.S. in the Gaza Strip as part of its efforts to provide humanitarian aid in 2024, which could only be sustained for less than a month before breaking due to the rough sea conditions in the area.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that these would be barges that would not be identifiable through the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which is typically used to monitor vessel movements, making their tracking significantly more difficult. This is no minor detail, considering that there are multiple precedents in which the Chinese Navy has employed this strategy to conceal the movements of its ships involved in military exercises, with their trajectories often being estimated based on satellite imagery from Western sources.
Finally, regarding the significance of this for Taiwan, it should not be overlooked that China has recently intensified naval exercises in its surrounding waters, a clear demonstration of the potential force it could deploy in the event of an attempt at reunification by force. Specifically, Taipei has reported high-intensity activities conducted by nine ships and thirteen Chinese aircraft on Sunday and Monday, to which the island nation responded by deploying more than forty aircraft and implementing new measures to curb the influence of Chinese media on the population, as well as to prevent possible leaks of military plans from its Armed Forces. All of this is happening amid Taiwan’s concerns about the continuity of U.S. military support, on which it heavily relies.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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