Key Facts
• In 2025, China deployed multiple fleets with large mobile pontoons for landing drills.
• Each fleet consists of three ships linking an 800-meter pontoon from offshore to shore.
• Satellite images from September 29, 2025, show pontoon ships docked in Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces.
• July to November 2025, drills observed near islands in Ningbo, Zhejiang, with ongoing facility construction.
• March 21, 2025, training with pontoons occurred near Zhanjiang, Guangdong; RO-RO ships active March 23–27.
• China uses civilian RO-RO cargo ships in joint military-civilian exercises to enhance landing capabilities.
• China’s large landing ships total 11, including 3 assault landing ships, per IISS Military Balance.
• U.S. Defense Department (Dec 23, 2025) reports China’s continuous joint training with RO-RO ships to address transport shortfalls.
• RO-RO ships allow rapid loading/unloading of trucks and heavy military vehicles via reinforced ramps.
• China’s Dec 29–30, 2025, exercises simulated maritime blockade and landing operations using assault landing ships.
Summary
China has intensified amphibious landing training along its eastern and southern coasts by deploying multiple fleets equipped with large mobile pontoons. These fleets, each comprising three ships that connect an approximately 800-meter pontoon from offshore to shore, have been observed via satellite images in Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces throughout 2025. The drills involve civilian RO-RO cargo ships, which facilitate rapid loading and unloading of military vehicles, addressing China’s limited number of large landing ships. The U.S. Defense Department highlights ongoing joint military-civilian exercises aimed at improving China’s transport and landing capabilities. Recent exercises also simulated maritime blockade and assault landing operations, underscoring China’s preparation for potential Taiwan invasion scenarios. Japan and the U.S. remain vigilant, noting the use of civilian vessels to augment military logistics and the development of new training sites near Ningbo. This evolving strategy reflects China’s efforts to overcome logistical constraints and enhance amphibious assault readiness.
