As China's military drills encircle Taiwan, whispers of conflict ripple through the international community. The air is thick with anticipation and uncertainty.

China is reportedly building a series of barges for amphibious landings amid fears of an invasion of Taiwan, its island neighbor, according to reports.

Now, satellite photos have revealed the construction of a new fleet of D-Day-style landing barges needed to surge troops and tanks over a beach. Naval analyst H I Sutton has published a report in Naval News highlighting the appearance of between three and five new “special and unusual” barges at Guangzhou Shipyard in southern China.