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.