China has unveiled a new military strategy emphasizing water‑based combat and amphibious capabilities. Instead of only relying on land power, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is building modular landing barges to offload tanks and vehicles directly onto coasts, even where ports are destroyed.
These “Shuiqiao” barges can link to each other and form piers far offshore. A recent test off Guangdong showed how they extend a bridge from ship to shore, suggesting China’s intent to overwhelm hard‑to‑defend coastlines, such as Taiwan’s. Analysts compare this setup to WWII-era Mulberry harbours and warn it's a major boost to logistics. Experts say while defense remains strong, water‑war tools give China new ways to pressure Taiwan’s thin beaches.
Despite the military advance, Taiwan disputes an imminent invasion and focuses on pre‑shore defenses. The PLA sees these barges as part of a broader water‑terrain strategy to support reunification, merging peaceful land presence with sea‑based force buildup.
