China is converting civilian ferries and cargo ships for potential military use as part of logistical preparations for a possible military operation in the Taiwan Strait. According to a Reuters report, these ships, which operate on commercial routes in peacetime, are changing their routes during exercises, heading towards the Guangdong coast and directly unloading vehicles and equipment onto the beach.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking data show that Beijing is building a large-scale logistical support force in addition to its existing amphibious fleet; this aims to ensure the sustainability of a landing operation in case Taiwan’s port infrastructure is targeted.
Since 2015, China has implemented technical regulations facilitating the conversion of civilian ships for military use. Reinforced ramps, strengthened decks, and rapid conversion systems are part of this process. In recent exercises, six Ro-Ro ferries and six decked cargo ships tested operational capacity by directly unloading military vehicles onto the beach or onto temporary piers.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense highlights China’s strategy of concealing military activities with civilian-appearing ships. It is noted that methods such as AIS manipulation and turning off transponders make target identification difficult during a crisis.
However, experts emphasize that civilian ferries, being slow and vulnerable, become easy targets against modern missiles, and that temporary piers are not resistant to weather conditions and attacks.
