TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – New satellite images suggest that China is testing its “water bridge” barges ahead of a potential invasion of Taiwan.  

The images from Texas-based SkyFi show three of the barges near Nantian Island in Zhejiang province, where the terrain closely resembles the northeast coast of Taiwan. The barges are named "Dongong" 401, 402 and 403, according to a Newsweek article published this week.

Naval News broke the story that China was building five of the barges, in January, saying they “appear tailor-made for (an) amphibious assault” of Taiwan. 

The barges were constructed at Guangzhou Shipyards by the CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering Company. Newsweek added that if the ships are taking part in verification training they would quickly be incorporated into the Chinese navy. 

Called “shuiqiao” (水橋) in Chinese, or “water bridge,” the vessels have legs that can jack up to keep the ship steady and bridges that extend about 122 meters. This means they can be connected to form one long span to land tanks and other materiel on previously inaccessible coasts. 

Newsweek quoted Bryce Barros, an associate fellow with the Slovakia-based think tank Globsec as saying the location of the tests was indicative of China’s intent to invade Taiwan. 

“It reflects a deliberate effort to simulate Taiwan's northeast coastline, particularly areas like Yilan County and New Taipei City, where rugged, less-defended beaches could offer the PLA an asymmetric opening.”  

“This suggests the PLA may be preparing to rapidly disembark vehicles, troops, and supplies near the capital if a beachhead can be secured,” Barros said.