The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has unveiled a terrifying new capability that could bypass Taiwan’s heavily fortified “Red Beaches.” In a series of secretive drills throughout 2025, the Chinese military successfully tested a movable 800-meter pier system—nicknamed “Shuiqiao” or “Water Bridge”—designed to transform any shallow coastline into a high-capacity military port within hours. By connecting three massive “jack-up” barges equipped with telescoping Bailey bridges, China has solved its biggest invasion weakness: the lack of dedicated landing ships.
Satellite imagery from December 2025 confirms that these piers are being paired with China’s “Shadow Navy”—a massive fleet of civilian Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) ferries built to military specifications. These civilian ships, which usually carry cars and trucks, are now practicing docking at these 800-meter mobile causeways to offload thousands of tanks and armored vehicles directly onto Taiwan’s shores. This “Mulberry Harbor” style innovation means China no longer needs to seize a major port like Taipei or Kaohsiung to win; they can simply bring their own port with them to the least-defended parts of the island.
