A fleet of large barges in the People’s Liberation Army has been assigned hull numbers, suggesting they have entered service in what would be Beijing’s latest move to deter Taiwan militarily.

Three advanced specialised island-landing vessels that form part of the ‘Dong Gong’ were spotted by internet users docked at a beach in mainland China in June, each one bearing a hull number in the sequence 401, 402 and 403.

The markings mean the ships serve in the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, according to Song Zhongping, a former Chinese military instructor, who said that “the character ‘dong’ also conveys the concept of the East Sea Fleet”.

Footage captured by drones and circulating online showed the barges equipped with four, six and eight legs respectively. During landing, their columns are expected to extend to the seabed to lift their craft clear of the water and hold it firmly in position.

Images circulated online showing three large self-elevating barges near Zhanjiang, Guangdong province. Photo: Weibo

The midsection of each hull is fitted with an extended bridge deck, while the bow is equipped with cable-stayed bridge towers.