China is reportedly building a series of 'D-Day style' barges that could potentially aid in an invasion of Taiwan, as per media reports. At least three of these new craft have been sighted at Guangzhou Shipyard in southern China, according to Naval News. These barges draw inspiration from the World War II 'Mulberry harbours,' which were portable harbors constructed for the Allied campaign in Normandy, France, in 1944.
Tensions between China and Taiwan, a significant U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific region, have remained heightened due to Beijing's refusal to acknowledge the independence of Taiwan. Naval News reported last week that at least three, but likely five or more, barges were observed at China's Guangzhou Shipyard. These barges, measuring over 390 feet, are designed to reach a coastal road or hard surface beyond a beach.
