China’s military developments are under scrutiny, as satellite imagery and intelligence reports reveal the construction of new amphibious landing barges and advancements in its aircraft carrier program. These developments raise concerns about Beijing’s military capabilities, and intentions in the Taiwan Strait.
Reports indicated that China is building specialized landing barges at a shipyard in southern China. Each barge is equipped with 120-meter-long bridges, capable of supporting heavy equipment, including tanks and bypassing terrain challenges like rocky or soft beaches. Defense analysts said these barges could expand potential landing sites for Chinese forces, challenging Taiwan’s strategy of fortifying a limited number of beaches.
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Some experts believe the barges are designed primarily for military use, while others suggest they could serve civilian purposes, such as disaster relief. The timing and design of the vessels, however, highlight their potential military role.
China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian (CVN-18), returned to port after its sixth sea trial. Observers noted what appeared to be touch-and-go maneuver marks on the flight deck, suggesting early testing of aircraft landing and takeoff capabilities. Full-scale models of J-35 fighter jets and KJ-600 early warning aircraft were present during the trial, indicating progress in the ship’s operational readiness.
The Fujian is China’s first carrier equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), a technology that allows for more efficient launches of lighter and heavier aircraft. The carrier is expected to become fully operational by 2026.
China has not commented on the purpose of the barges or the Fujian’s latest trials. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently reiterated his commitment to Taiwan’s reunification, describing it as inevitable, adding to concerns about Beijing’s long-term intentions.
Tags: Aircraft carriers, China, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Navy, People’s Liberation Army, People’s Republic of China, South China Sea, Taiwan
[Ryan Robertson]
THERE ARE MORE SIGNS SUGGESTING CHINA IS GEARING UP TO TAKE TAIWAN—LIKE A BUILD-UP OF NEW AMPHIBIOUS LANDING BARGES AND ADVANCEMENTS IN ITS MOST SOPHISTICATED AIRCRAFT CARRIER PROGRAM. IT’S ALLRAISING EVEN MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT BEIJING’S CAPABILITIES AND INTENTIONS IN THE REGION.
RECENT SATELLITE IMAGERY AND OPEN-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE REVEAL CHINA IS BUILDING SPECIALIZED LANDING BARGES AT A SHIPYARD IN SOUTHERN CHINA. THE BARGES FEATURE 120-METER-LONG BRIDGES CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING HEAVY EQUIPMENT– LIKE TANKS– ALLOWING THEM TO BYPASS ROCKY OR SOFT BEACHES
DEFENSE ANALYSTS SUGGEST THESE BARGES COULD EXPAND POTENTIAL LANDING SITES FOR CHINESE FORCES–LIKE COASTAL ROADS– CHALLENGING TAIWAN’S DEFENSE STRATEGIES THAT FOCUS ON DEFENDING A LIMITED NUMBER OF HEAVILY FORTIFIED BEACHES.
WHILE MANY BELIEVE THE BARGES ARE PRIMARILY DESIGNED FOR MILITARY USE, OTHERS SPECULATE THEY COULD ALSO SERVE CIVILIAN PURPOSES, LIKE DISASTER RELIEF FOR INSTANCE.
MEANWHILE, CHINA’S THIRD AND MOST ADVANCED AIRCRAFT CARRIER, THE FUJIAN (CVN-18), RETURNED TO PORT AFTER ITS SIXTH SEA TRIAL. OBSERVERS NOTED WHAT APPEAR TO BE TOUCH-AND-GO MANEUVER MARKS ON ITS FLIGHT DECK, SUGGESTING EARLY TESTING OF AIRCRAFT LANDING AND TAKEOFF CAPABILITIES.
WHILE NO ACTUAL AIRCRAFT WERE OBSERVED ABOARD THE CARRIER, FULL-SCALE MODELS OF J-35 FIGHTER JETS AND KJ-600 EARLY WARNING AIRCRAFT WERE PRESENT DURING THE TRIAL, SIGNALING ADVANCEMENTS IN THE SHIP’S OPERATIONAL READINESS.
THE FUJIAN IS THE FIRST CHINESE CARRIER EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTROMAGNETIC AIRCRAFT LAUNCH SYSTEM, SIMILAR TO THE U.S. NAVY’S EMALS, ENABLING THE LAUNCH OF BOTH LIGHTER AND HEAVIER AIRCRAFT WITH GREATER EFFICIENCY. THE CARRIER IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY 2026
CHINA DID NOT OFFICIALLY COMMENT ON THE PURPOSE OF THE BARGES OR THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE FUJIAN. HOWEVER, CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING RECENTLY REAFFIRMED HIS COMMITMENT TO TAIWAN’S REUNIFICATION, CALLING IT AN INEVITABILITY.
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