China launches terrifying rehearsal for INVASION of Taiwan using ‘shadow fleet’ to storm beaches in D-Day style landings

CHINA has carried out a dress rehearsal for an invasion of Taiwan using a “shadow fleet” of civilian car ferries to storm beaches in D-Day style landings.

Disturbing satellite imagery has confirmed an armada of ferries was commandeered to practice delivering troops, vehicles and military gear to shore.

The huge exercise is the clearest sign yet that ruthless president Xi Jinping is fine-tuning a military assault which threatens to dwarf the carnage and crisis detonated in Ukraine.

Experts fear Xi has been emboldened by Donald Trump’s tacit support for Russian demands in Ukraine and may be bringing forward his plans to invade.

But America has pledged to defend the breakaway democratic isle 100 miles off the Chinese mainland – raising the spectre of a superpower showdown which could trigger World War III.

Ship tracking data and satellite images dating back to August have revealed the key role China’s civilian vessels will play in the planned invasion.

China needs the ships because its military is capable of moving just 20,000 soldiers – but will need 300,000 to take heavily defended Taiwan.

Images recorded on August 17 showed 12 large civilian vessels setting off for a landing beach in Guangdong Province to rehearse a military assault.

Six were roll-on, roll-off car ferries and the other six were deck cargo ships across Asia to carry heavy freight.

All 12 were then observed by satellite and transponder tracking moving closer to shore under cover of darkness then launching beach landings after dawn.

The fleet then practiced a series of landing techniques which appeared to be amphibious warfare exercises run by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

Satellite imagery captured at least one cargo vessel unloading vehicles directly onto the beach, using its attached ramp as more were lined up.

Nearby, a 90-metres long cargo vessel Huayizhixing arrived at the beach, fully laden with about 20 vehicles.

PLA commanders plotting the invasion have been given the power to commandeer the ships to deliver military vehicles and troops without port facilities.

The ferries were supported by four military craft which appear to be a self-propelled temporary pier system first spotted in the early 2020s.

A back-up armada of military amphibious assault vehicles also joined in.

It comes as Taiwan delivered a chilling handbook to its citizens, preparing them for a possible Chinese invasion.

The handbook, unveiled in September, includes for the first time instructions on what to do if citizens encounter enemy soldiers.

It stresses that any claims of Taiwan’s surrender should be considered false.

The guidance assists residents on locating bomb shelters and preparing emergency kits.

It marks Taiwan’s latest effort to prepare its population for crises including natural disasters and a Chinese invasion.

Beijing has stepped up military and political pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over the democratically governed island.

Lin Fei-fan, Deputy Secretary-General of Taiwan’s National Security Council who oversaw the effort, said: “This booklet shows our determination to defend ourselves.

“We need people across the Taiwan Strait to understand that there will be a huge cost if China makes the wrong decision because Taiwanese people have the resolve and very clear commitment in defending ourselves and people are willing to take that action to protect each other.”

The distribution to more than 9.8 million mailboxes across the island will start this week.

Handbooks will be in English and other foreign languages, Lin said.

After the distribution, Lin said the government will help people prepare their personal emergency kits through promotional campaigns, though he did not give details.