Beijing has never renounced using force to unite the island with mainland China. Most countries do not regard Taiwan as an independent state, but many oppose taking the island by force.
The People’s Liberation Army has been developing a “military-local logistics mechanism” to try to get supplies to front lines more efficiently.
The Chang Shan Dao can carry 1,400 people, has 2km (1.2 miles) of “driveway” for vehicles to park on and has a displacement of 23,000 tonnes, according to its state-owned operator Cosco Shipping Ferry.
The PLA has used civilian ferries built by state-owned enterprises to help it transport supplies in drills in the past.
In 2011, the military used the Bohai Zhen Zhu, or “Bohai Pearl”, to move troops and equipment in a drill, the first time a civilian ship with a displacement of more than 10,000 tonnes had been deployed in such an exercise, a 73rd Group Army officer told state media at the time.
The vessel was operated by Bohai Ferry Group, a company directly owned by the state.
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