Claims over Taiwan, South China Sea: Xi Jinping flouting Int'l Law to plug gaps

Xi Jinping regime using civilian ships to eat away the sovereignty of other nations. The Chinese civilian vessels do more than just augment the raw numbers of ships. Bid to deny state responsibility, but the civilian vessels are state-directed & state-paid. Defence outposts on artificial islands; China claims almost all of South China Sea. Troop transport in focus - For now, China lacks enough amphibious craft to invade Taiwan. Military use of ocean-going ferries - The capability to accommodate tanks & troops. Ocean-going ferries may be a stopgap measure should a crisis prompt Taiwan invasion.