【Text by Observer Net, Mountain Cat】

Recently, a video claiming to show Chinese landing ships sailing at sea has appeared on the Internet again, which has sparked renewed attention and hype from foreign media. For example, the UK's The Sun used a sensational headline "Barging into the Third World War" (the word "Barging" used in the title is quite a hint of "Barge", referring to the "landing ship").

Screen capture of the video

The report states that these Chinese "D-Day-style invasion barges" were captured for the first time while in motion, and this facility, also called "Water Bridge," is used to build a channel from deep water directly to the coast, possibly enabling a full amphibious attack on the island of Taiwan. They were initially discovered through satellite images, but this is the first time that footage of their moving state has been seen. The footage shows them slowly sailing on calm waters, with their ramps and gangways already retracted. Previously, there were static images of the facility in different angles, showing its ability to connect multiple individual units together to form a "nearly one kilometer" long gangway, with extendable pillars on both sides used to lift and fix the barge body onto the seabed.

Previous footage of the facility during coastal testing

The report also claims that according to satellite images and "military sources," it is certain that China is forming a fleet of "at least five landing barges." The reason for calling them "D-Day-style" is because many analysts compare them to the "Mulberry" artificial harbor facilities used by the Allies in the 1944 "Operation Overlord."

On the other hand, the report also mentions that the authorities in Taiwan can use the "Porcupine Strategy" to counterattack. For example, citing the statement of former intelligence officer Philip Ingram, who praised the Taiwanese navy's "Tuojiang"-class patrol ships, stating that they can rely on their high speed and small size to conduct "hit-and-run" attacks on large warships, making the attack difficult in a similar manner.

As for another part linking these to the "Third World War," it was the warning issued by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the NATO meeting this month. Rutte claimed that China might "force Russia" to attack NATO, creating chaos for NATO to "divert Western attention," and thus attack Taiwan. In this context, Rutte exaggeratedly described Russia as a "secondary partner" in the relationship between China and Russia, suggesting a scenario where "China directs Russia to attack Europe."

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7561379353465045546/

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