China is undertaking a large-scale build-out of infrastructure along its eastern coast, including air and naval sites that show its growing readiness for a potential conflict over Taiwan.
Satellite images and other open-source material examined by GEO INDO PACIFIC illustrate how these facilities would strengthen China’s hand if it launched an invasion of the island democracy. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has pledged to take it, by force if necessary.
China is undertaking a large-scale build-out of infrastructure along its eastern coast, including air and naval sites that show its growing readiness for a potential conflict over Taiwan. Satellite images and other open-source material examined by The Wall Street Journal illustrate how these facilities would strengthen China’s hand if it launched an invasion of the island democracy.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has pledged to take it, by force if necessary. The sites range from a large new base for amphibious warships to a multibillion-dollar airport that sits around 3 miles from front-line Taiwanese islands. “All of it goes to supporting China’s one military planning scenario, which is a Taiwan scenario,” said Michael Dahm, a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer and senior resident fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies who closely tracks these projects.
The investments boost a sweeping effort under President Xi Jinping for his country to become equipped and capable of taking Taiwan. A cross-strait invasion to seize the territory would be highly complex. Whether Xi intends to carry out such an offensive remains an open question.
U.S. military officials have stepped up warnings in recent months about Beijing’s intentions, saying the country is on a dangerous path. China is modernizing equipment from warheads to warplanes, conducting ever-expanding military exercises—and pouring concrete.
The facility isn’t on the Taiwan Strait, which could be an advantage, said Dahm, because that waterway would likely be a “free-fire zone” in a conflict. Instead of concentrating its warships, China’s invasion fleet could sail for Taiwan from different points along the coast.
That approach would require more planning to ensure forces show up at the right place at the right time. But it would complicate decisions by China’s adversaries on what to target, when and where.
The facility’s size suggests it was built for expanded wartime use, said Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. It could serve as a jumpoff point for part of an invasion fleet heading for northern Taiwan, where the territory’s capital city, Taipei, is located, said Koh.
Big berths
Closer to Taiwan, a naval facility in Yueqing Bay has a new pier measuring over a mile long, allowing a large number of ships to operate from there. Around 20 vessels were visible on a recent day, including tank transports, ship-to-shore landing craft, tankers and coast-guard cutters—all of which would play a role in a Taiwan contingency.
An anti-ship missile formation with YJ-17s passes through Tiananmen Square during the Sept. 3 ceremony in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Photo courtesy of China News Service Sept. 3, 2025
Taipei, Sept. 3 (CNA) The array of new missile systems unveiled at a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, while not specifically designed for a Taiwan invasion, could deter foreign forces from intervening in a cross-strait conflict, according to defense experts.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) hosted the parade in Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. With more than 20 international leaders in attendance, Xi inspected a grand display of military weapons, including previously unseen models.
Missiles target foreign intervention
Among them were the “YJ,” or “Eagle Strike,” family of hypersonic anti-ship missiles, including YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20, which defense experts say can be deployed to strengthen China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) posture near the Taiwan Strait.
For example, the YJ-19 has a range of 1,440 kilometers and is capable of striking ships deployed as far as the Second Island Chain, which stretches from Japan to Guam and Indonesia, said Kao Chih-jung (高志榮), a researcher at Taiwan’s government-owned Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR).
However, these missiles are unlikely to pose a significant threat to Taiwan’s Navy, he said.
“There is no way we’re going to put our main battleships in the Taiwan Strait at the opening stage of a war. We’ll try to move them all to the east coast,” Kao said.
The anti-ship missiles, therefore, would pose a greater threat to American vessels that come to Taiwan’s aid should Washington decide to intervene, he argued.
Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a research fellow at the INDSR, agreed.
“The YJ family of missiles will strengthen China’s A2/AD posture around Taiwan. They would cut off foreign fleets, preventing them from approaching the Taiwan Strait,” Su said.
Su also called attention to the DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile, the JL-3 intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile, and the AJX002 underwater drone, all of which made their debut on Wednesday.
These weapons would serve the purpose of “political denial,” as they can be outfitted with nuclear warheads to dissuade other countries from providing Taiwan with logistical support or sending troops to defend it should war break out in the Strait, Su told CNA.
Stealth drones add new threats
Kao said other potential threats to Taiwan included what appeared to be four new stealth attack drone models displayed at the parade.
Speaking to CNA, the scholar noted that the four drone models, rolled out after a GJ-11 stealth drone, lacked vertical stabilizers and were shaped like stealth fighter jets.
In combat, these drone models could be deployed alongside fighter jets to more effectively establish air supremacy over enemy fighter jets, he said.
Due to their stealth capabilities, they would also increase psychological pressure on enemy pilots, limiting their movements, he added.
When outfitted with ammunition, the drones will pose a risk to Taiwan’s military bases and other ground targets, Kao said, suggesting close monitoring of future testing of the drones and their official introduction into the People’s Liberation Army.
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