TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Beijing still lacks sufficient amphibious landing capabilities, the Ministry of National Defense said in its 2026 report on Chinese military power released on Monday.
The ministry said that amphibious operations are among the most complex military tasks for the PLA, Liberty Times reported. They require simultaneous multi-point landings, air and sea superiority, and sustained troop and logistics support, the ministry said.
Though current PLA capabilities remain insufficient, amphibious forces continue to train alongside naval and airborne units, the ministry warned. It said that the PLA is also incorporating civilian roll-on/roll-off ferries, cargo ships, and semi-submersible vessels into joint landing exercises with amphibious and army aviation forces, per Liberty Times.
China continues to develop new bridge-type amphibious landing craft and amphibious ships to bolster landing and logistics capabilities, the ministry said.
In terms of gray zone activities, Chinese military aircraft and drones continuously fly across the Taiwan Strait median line and into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, the ministry said, according to Liberty Times. Meanwhile, Chinese naval vessels sail near Taiwan to conduct joint combat readiness patrols, it said.
The ministry pointed out that China uses military exercises to intimidate Taiwan.
Through its cyber warfare forces, China integrates resources and continues to invest in technology and personnel to strengthen capabilities for cyberattacks and malware deployment, the ministry said, per Liberty Times. China regards cyberspace as a key domain of modern warfare, adopting a model of peacetime infiltration and wartime disruption, it said.
The ministry added that the PLA integrates firepower resources across branches to establish a joint strike system. Depending on mission requirements, it has targets set on key military facilities and critical infrastructure in Taiwan.
China focuses on saturation and surprise attacks to disrupt Taiwan's command and communications, air defense, and logistics.
