U.S. intelligence warns China building 800-meter floating piers for Taiwan invasion
By isabelle // 2025-10-01
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  • China is converting more than 70 commercial ferries into troop transports for a potential 2027 Taiwan invasion.
  • Modified ferries and floating barges act as mobile invasion infrastructure, capable of deploying tanks and troops rapidly.
  • U.S. intelligence designates these "civilian" ships as military targets, raising legal and escalation risks.
  • Russia is training Chinese paratroopers and supplying equipment, adding airborne assaults to Beijing’s invasion strategy.
  • Taiwan’s defenses face overwhelming pressure as China combines sea, air, cyber, and grey-zone tactics.
A classified U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report obtained by Australian media reveals China is rapidly converting its commercial ferry fleet into a troop-transport armada as part of a chilling preparation for a potential full-scale invasion of Taiwan by 2027. The scale is staggering: more than 70 large vessels, modified to carry tanks and deploy amphibious forces, with satellite imagery confirming their use in military drills along China’s coastline. This isn’t just saber-rattling. It’s a logistical nightmare in the making, and the Pentagon is taking it seriously enough to designate these "civilian" ships as legitimate military targets in a conflict. The implications are terrifying. These aren’t purpose-built warships but repurposed commercial ferries—some as long as 200 meters—capable of hauling armored vehicles and soldiers directly onto Taiwan’s shores. According to the report, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has already tested these vessels in exercises, pairing them with newly constructed landing docks that extend into 800-meter-long piers. The message is clear: Beijing is solving one of the biggest hurdles of an amphibious invasion: the rapid deployment of heavy equipment. And they’re doing it on the cheap, using dual-use infrastructure that blurs the line between civilian and military assets.

A trojan horse at sea

The ferries aren’t acting alone. Satellite photos analyzed by the U.S. Naval War College show China building three classes of landing barges—ranging from 110 to 185 meters long—that can link together like "Russian dolls" to form floating piers. These barges don’t just transport troops; they become the invasion infrastructure. "China is building ports that sail," noted James Corera, director of cyber, technology, and security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. But here’s the catch: these assets are only useful after China secures a beachhead. The real question is how they plan to break Taiwan’s defenses in the first place. China’s official line remains one of "peaceful reunification," but their actions scream otherwise. Taiwan’s chief representative to Australia, Douglas Hsu, warned that these ferries are part of a broader strategy that includes "grey-zone tactics" like cyberattacks to weaken Taiwanese society. Meanwhile, leaked documents reviewed by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) reveal Russia is training Chinese paratroopers for airborne assaults—another piece of the puzzle. The PLA is leaving nothing to chance, combining sea, air, and digital warfare to overwhelm Taiwan’s defenses.

The legal and moral minefield

Here’s where things get even stickier. The U.S. intelligence report assesses that these ferries could be targeted and sunk in a conflict, even with civilian crews aboard. That’s a direct challenge to international law, which protects civilian vessels unless they’re formally requisitioned for military use. The Pentagon’s stance? If a ferry is rolling tanks onto a beach, it’s a legitimate target. But sinking civilian-manned ships risks escalating a crisis into a global PR disaster—or worse, a wider war. China, of course, sees it differently. Hu Bo, director of the Center for Maritime Strategy Studies at Peking University, called the U.S. assessment a "naked threat." "In wartime, China can legitimately use everything to support its operations," he told ABC. His argument hinges on Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is a "domestic issue"—a position that ignores the island’s democratic sovereignty and the U.S.’s treaty obligations to defend it. The White House may talk tough on Taiwan, but the reality is that China’s ferry fleet creates a strategic dilemma: How do you stop an invasion when the enemy’s troops are arriving on what look like cargo ships?

Russia is providing equipment and training

The plot thickens with Russia’s involvement. According to RUSI, Moscow is equipping and training a Chinese airborne battalion, providing assault vehicles, anti-tank guns, and critical combat experience. "Russia is equipping and training Chinese special forces groups to penetrate the territory of other countries without being noticed," RUSI fellows wrote. This partnership isn’t just about hardware; it’s about tactics—lessons learned from Ukraine’s battlefield that could be turned against Taiwan. U.S. intelligence believes Xi Jinping has ordered the PLA to be invasion-ready by 2027, which is when analysts predict China’s military will have the firepower, logistics, and political cover to attempt a takeover. The ferries, barges, and Russian-trained paratroopers are all pieces of that timeline. And while Beijing insists it prefers peaceful reunification, its actions suggest it’s preparing for the opposite. For Taiwan, the clock is ticking. The island’s defense ministry has confirmed it views these ferries as part of China’s "expansionist intentions." But deterrence isn’t just about military hardware; it’s about resolve. The U.S. and its allies must decide whether they’re willing to risk a direct confrontation with China over Taiwan—or if they’ll let Beijing’s grey-zone tactics and legal ambiguities erode the island’s independence bit by bit. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com ABC.net.au Reuters.com CNN.com
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