New footage has emerged showcasing China’s latest amphibious barge system—a jack-up-supported temporary pier designed for large-scale military landings. These barges were recently revealed during an amphibious landing exercise near Zhanjiang.
BREAKING:
China unveiled its new huge ”invasion barges” during an amphibious landing exercise near Zhanjiang.
The barges will make it possible for China to move large amounts of military equipment to a shore without docking facilities.
Ships would dock with barges, unload… pic.twitter.com/2eAXTW4Zrp
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 13, 2025
The development of these so-called “invasion barges,” designed for the rapid transfer of tanks, trucks, and other armored vehicles from ships to shore via a 120-meter-long ramp, aligns with Beijing’s efforts to enhance the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) amphibious capabilities. Defense analysts suggest these barges could play a critical role in a potential invasion of Taiwan or other military operations in the South China Sea.
Fleet Of Special Barges Suitable For Taiwan Landings
via WeChat Channels@观诲长郎 https://t.co/BFjuxQjG5R pic.twitter.com/3evM4JhHFv— 笑脸男人 (@lfx160219) March 13, 2025
Satellite imagery from the Guangzhou Shipyard International on Longxue Island earlier this year confirmed the active construction of specialized barges designed for PLAN amphibious operations. The exact number of special barges remains unclear, but reports suggest between three and seven.
However, in a post on X, (formerly Twitter) Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security claimed that three jack-up barges previously seen under construction have departed.
In this 9 March image, we can see that three of the LPTs have left (numbers 6, 2, and 1 from the previous thread).
As such, one 4-, one 6-, and one 8-pillar LPT have departed, with one of each still under construction. pic.twitter.com/fXFOOBu302
— Tom Shugart (@tshugart3) March 13, 2025
Online defense magazine Army Recognition in its report remarked that China’s invasion barges could operate alongside other amphibious assault vessels, enabling Chinese forces to maintain a steady supply chain during an invasion. “In theory, this capability would allow China to rapidly increase its combat power on Taiwanese soil, delivering everything from fuel to tanks without requiring an intact port, which could be out of reach or heavily defended.”
The report however noted that Taiwan’s defenses must not be overlooked.
“Taiwan’s coastal defenses are robust, featuring advanced missile systems, including long-range anti-ship missiles, coastal artillery, and radar-guided air defense systems. These defenses pose a substantial threat to any unprotected or slow-moving vessels, especially during the critical phases of amphibious assaults,” the report said.
