Henry Zwartz
A classified US military intelligence report seen by the ABC says China is rapidly building up the country's commercial ferry fleet to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan.
The report dates from earlier this year and was prepared by members of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for the Pentagon.
The US intelligence says the large ocean-going vessels have been modified to carry tanks and partake in amphibious operations.
The ABC has seen the report on the condition that it is not quoted directly, in order to protect the source of the information.
In 2022 alone, some 30 Chinese commercial ferries were monitored by Five Eyes intelligence in military exercises involving People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops.
Five Eyes is an intelligence-sharing alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
China is building more than 70 of the large vessels by the end of 2026.
Taiwan's government confirmed to the ABC that it viewed the vessels as part of China's "expansionist intentions" vis-a-vis Taiwan.
"We are also seeing increasing grey-zone tactics … to weaken Taiwan's democracy and society, such as cyber attacks," Douglas Hsu, Taiwan's chief representative to Australia, told the ABC.
"Civilian vessels or other dual-use facilities in [the] maritime domain are also part of China's strategy," he said.
China's ocean-going ferries are capable of transporting armoured vehicles and soldiers. (Supplied: CCTV)
Cargo ships being used with new landing docks
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