Hidden in plain sight: How China's civilian ferries became machines of war

Global Watch | 2025-11-26

(This is the first of a five-part series of articles exploring how China may be preparing for a potential conflict over Taiwan -- from covert militarization and invasion logistics to cognitive warfare, shipbuilding power and the global stakes of a showdown.)

On August 17, 12 Chinese civilian vessels, including six roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries and six deck cargo ships, deviated from their commercial routes. Their destination was not a bustling port but a stretch of sandy beach near Jiesheng in Guangdong Province.

This was no ordinary detour -- it was a rehearsal for war.

A Reuters investigation, supported by satellite imagery and tracking data, revealed these vessels were part of a People's Liberation Army (PLA) exercise. The goal according to the report is to test the hypothesis that civilian ships could be repurposed for military invasions. This "shadow navy" strategy fundamentally alters the dynamics of a potential Taiwan conflict.

The investigation tracked ships like the Huayizhixing, a deck cargo vessel typically used for hauling construction materials. However, during the exercise, it executed a direct beach landing under cover of darkness. Satellite images captured military trucks and vehicles being unloaded onto the sand using retrofitted ramps. This capability suggests the PLA is training civilian vessels to participate in the initial assault phase, bypassing the need for deep-water ports.

China's reliance on civilian ships addresses a critical shortfall: the PLA lacks sufficient amphibious assault ships to transport the estimated 300,000 troops required for an invasion. By drafting civilian ferries -- some capable of carrying hundreds of vehicles and thousands of passengers -- China effectively crowdsources its invasion fleet.

Murky implications

This dual-use strategy presents significant challenges for Taiwan's defenders. A fleet of hundreds or thousands of civilian vessels swarming the coastline complicates targeting and blurs the line between combatants and non-combatants.

The rules of engagement become murky, especially for Taiwanese and US forces. The Huayizhixing's maneuvers left a clear message: the next great naval battle may not be fought by warships alone but by a hybrid armada hiding in plain sight.

The implications extend beyond military tactics. The PLA's ability to mobilize civilian vessels highlights China's civil-military fusion strategy, where commercial assets are seamlessly integrated into national defense. This approach ensures that every ship launched from Chinese shipyards is a potential naval asset.

While the shadow navy appears formidable, it is not without vulnerabilities. Civilian ships lack armor, point-defense systems and damage control capabilities, making them "soft targets" in a shooting war. Taiwan's asymmetric defenses, including mobile anti-ship missiles, could exploit these weaknesses, turning civilian vessels into liabilities.

Ultimately, the shadow navy represents a gamble -- a calculated risk by Beijing to leverage its industrial and logistical advantages. As the Reuters investigation underscores, the next phase of warfare may be defined not by traditional military hardware but by the ingenuity of repurposing civilian assets for combat.