🇨🇳🇹🇼🇯🇵 The PLA experimented with using civilian vessels in an amphibious landing exercise in August 2025 to enhance its limited sealift capacity. Such civilian vessels are highly vulnerable especially to the weapon systems that Taiwan has prioritized acquiring.
Other Key Takeaways:

Taiwan has focused on developing its drone capabilities in collaboration with foreign partners and establishing friendly supply chains. Taiwan has separately worked to bolster its military resilience and readiness.

The CCP has further escalated against Japan in response to Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi saying that a war over Taiwan could threaten Japanese security. The CCP is trying to deter Japan and others from tying their security to that of Taiwan.

PRC state media signaled support for independence movements on Japan’s Ryukyu islands as part of the CCP coercion of Tokyo. This PRC rhetoric threatens Japanese sovereignty and may be part of an effort to erode Japanese control there.

🔗 ISW