CHINA has paraded its terrifying new invasion barges that connect up to form a runway for attack vehicles – which could be used to storm Taiwan.
Satellite pictures show the huge hybrid vessels lining up to form a floating bridge, amid involving the army, navy and rocket force.
China has been to intimidate Taiwan, which has hit back with increased drills of its own.
The satellite images show , each with two arms of roadway, lining up next to each other.
They connect to form a continuous bridge along which invading ground vehicles such as tanks could trundle ashore.
Huge retractable legs anchor the barges to the seabed like stilts.
Analysts have likened the purpose-built barges to the floating Mulberry Harbours used by allied forces during thelandings in June, 1944.
At least five of the floating bridges will soon be operational, according to military sources.
Some experts have doubted whether China would be able to cross the Taiwan Strait with sufficient speed and numbers for an invasion.
But this new system seems to be the latest effort to make it possible – and could suggest the army is gearing up for an attempt, according to experts.
The barges could increase China's options for when and when to land on Taiwan, making an invasion more achievable.
Beijing has long insisted that Taiwan is part of China, despite the island's claim of independence.
At the end of 2024, Xi vowed: “No one can stop the reunification of China.”
The Chinese military bragged earlier this week about its military drills in the South China Sea, which it called a “powerful deterrent against Taiwanese independence”.
Huge ships encircled Taiwan – and Beijing even released a disturbing picture of the island surrounded by military vehicles with the caption “Closing In”.
The poster also bared the chilling phrase “Taiwan separatists courting disaster upon themselves”.
Taiwanannounced on Tuesday that it had detected at least 19 Chinese warships, as well as the large Shandong aircraft carrier, prowling in the waters nearby.
That marks the highest number of enemy vessels spotted in a 24-hour period since last May.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command, announced the “sea-air combat-readiness patrols”.
He added that the move was a “joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade on key areas and sea lanes”.
Taiwan's biggest annual military drills, the Han Kuang exercises, will be extended this year to include two weeks of computerised tabletop wargames and ten days of live-fire drills.
The two-week long simulation, beginning on Saturday, will be the longest-running in Han Kunag's history – in recognition of the increasing threat of conflict.
Defence experts have revealed with advanced warfare techniques and overwhelming military force.
And they said that China will consider now to strike, with a fragmented West and unpredictable US foreign policy from President Trump.
Professor Ashok Swain, a peace and security expert at Uppsala Universityin, says that China could look to attackTaiwanwith full force as soon as 2027.
He told Flying Eze that the US administration’s withdrawal of security commitments toEurope– and potentially – Taiwan adds to Xi’s confidence.
Professor Swain said: “Theglobal politicshas changed dramatically in the last couple of months… the wayUkraineis being handled by theUnited Statesgives a certain comfort level to Xi.
“It is the perfect moment for China to attack Taiwan if it plans to do so.”
Professor Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King's CollegeLondon, added: “China’s leadership is closely watching the West’s response to other conflicts, such asUkraine, to assess how it might react to an invasion of Taiwan.”
