fredag 18. juli 2025

China Flexes Island-Seizing Capability in Contested Waters

China demonstrated its island-seizing capabilities by deploying air-cushioned landing craft in the South China Sea, where it is engaged in territorial disputes with neighboring countries. In contrast to more-conventional landing boats, air-cushioned landing craft—also known as Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC)—are capable of rapidly reaching landing sites that are difficult to access due to their speed and cross-country capability, an expert told Newsweek.

China's territorial claims in the South China Sea cover most of the waters and overlap with those of others, including the Philippines, an ally of the United States. The East Asian power has built outposts on islands under its control, aiming to assert its sovereignty in the region.