Footage leaked, then disappeared; The directive has been issued - the invasion begins in 2027?

The video shows newly built Chinese landing barges that, according to analysts, could be used in an invasion of Taiwan, reports Newsweek.

It is recalled that the Naval News portal reported in January that several barges were in a shipyard in the southeastern city of Guangzhou. These ships are characterized by ramps longer than a football field, which allows military vehicles to bypass heavily defended beaches, Telegraf reports.

China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and has promised unification with the island, if necessary by force.

A video of the barge, shared on the Chinese social network WeChat, shows three vessels supported by retractable poles in shallow waters. After a few minutes, the video was removed from the social network.

The barges appeared to be connected in an unbroken line, with the leading ship's ramp extended over the shore.

China has already ramped up production of so-called Ro/Ro (roll-on/roll-off) ships, commercial vessels that can be adapted for military transport. These ships are equipped with ramps that enable fast loading, transportation and unloading of tanks and other heavy equipment in wartime conditions.

Naval News reports that these ships could be attached to the rear of landing barges, allowing for the rapid transfer of tanks and other vehicles.

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has significantly increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, including regular incursions into its identification airspace and military exercises simulating a blockade of the island.

Several US officials, including former CIA Director Bill Burns, have said they believe Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered his military to be ready for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027, although that is no guarantee that an invasion will actually happen then or ever.

Tom Shugart, a former U.S. Navy submariner and senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, wrote in Platform X in January: "Frankly, I can't think of many greater warnings for Taiwanese and U.S. federal military planners than the fact that the PLA is actually carrying out Xi Jinping's directive to acquire the capability to invade Taiwan by 2027."

In another post, Shugart wrote:

"If they manage to get these barges ashore and defend them, it will be very bad news for Taiwan, as China's merchant navy, which is enormous in size, can transport huge numbers of vehicles using its ever-growing fleet of Ro/Ro ferries and cargo ships to transport vehicles."

Since 2016, the Taiwanese government has accelerated preparations for a possible Chinese amphibious invasion, buying American weapons, modernizing the military and developing domestic weapons systems such as cruise missiles.

However, Taipei is still waiting for the delivery of several billion dollars worth of military equipment, the sale of which was approved by Congress several years ago.

Washington continues to adhere to a policy of "strategic ambiguity", leaving Beijing uncertain whether the US will send its forces to defend Taiwan in the event of a conflict.