Taipei, Sept. 6 -- The Chinese military has developed a fleet of landing bridge ships to enhance its amphibious assault capabilities, but their effectiveness in a potential invasion of Taiwan is questionable due to their extreme vulnerability, according to defence analyst Shen Ming-shih.

Shen, a research fellow at the Institute for National Defence and Security Research, said the deployment of these ships by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's East Sea Fleet signals a direct strategic focus on Taiwan. These vessels, known as the Donggong 401, 402, and 403, feature a 120-meter bridge at the front for tanks and armoured vehicles to disembark directly onto shore. They also include a rear ramp that connects with roll-on/roll-off ferrie...