Key Facts
• In summer 2025, Chinese military held joint landing exercises off Guangdong Province near Taiwan’s coast.
• On July 16, 2025, a large Ro-Ro cargo ship and 11 amphibious vehicles were observed sailing in formation.
• Amphibious vehicles launched from the ship can directly land on beaches, transporting troops and equipment.
• The Ro-Ro ship involved is identified as “Putuo Island,” operated by a major Chinese shipping company.
• “Putuo Island” departed Dalian on July 8, passed Taiwan Strait on July 11, operated near Shanwei on July 16, and returned July 21.
• Reports indicate “Putuo Island” participated again in military drills near Shanwei in August 2025.
• U.S. Naval War College reported “Putuo Island” took part in landing drills off Guangdong in March 2023.
• Japan’s government monitors these exercises closely, noting China’s focus on enhancing offshore force deployment.
• China integrates civilian ships with military units to improve unpredictable landing capabilities for potential Taiwan invasion.
• Multiple civilian Ro-Ro ships and mobile piers are used in repeated realistic joint landing training.
Summary
Satellite imagery and automatic ship identification data confirmed that in summer 2025, the Chinese military conducted joint amphibious landing exercises near Taiwan’s coast using amphibious vehicles and civilian large Ro-Ro cargo ships. The exercises involved the “Putuo Island,” a Ro-Ro ship registered in Dalian and operated by a major Chinese shipping firm, which transported amphibious vehicles capable of launching directly onto beaches. These drills aim to enhance China’s ability to deploy forces from the sea at unpredictable locations, a capability critical for a potential Taiwan invasion. The “Putuo Island” also participated in similar exercises in August 2025 and was previously involved in 2023 drills. Japan’s government is closely monitoring these developments, recognizing China’s efforts to strengthen its offshore landing and transport capacity by integrating civilian maritime assets with military operations. This reflects a broader strategy to improve China’s amphibious assault capabilities through repeated, realistic joint training involving multiple civilian ships and mobile piers.
