China has been practicing maneuvers off its southern coast using three special barges, which form a bridge-like structure extending from the sea onto the beach. This move is seen as a warning to Taiwan and an indication that China’s military may be getting closer to being able to land troops and equipment on the island. While China has been conducting military exercises around Taiwan for years, the use of these barges could expand the options for landing on the island and make a potential invasion more plausible. However, crossing the Taiwan Strait is still a dangerous task, and there is debate over China’s intentions and capabilities. Satellite images have shown the barges practicing with civilian ships, and experts believe they could potentially offload hundreds of armored vehicles in a single day.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/asia/china-invasion-barges-taiwan.html