A force optimized solely for a nearby landing could use numerous large landing craft under land-based air cover. An LHA adds aviation, command, sustainment, and embarked-force capacity that become more valuable as distance from the Chinese coast increases. Building such ships suggests interest in farther operations, including reinforcing artificial islands or threatening small islands across the South China Sea. The procurement choice is not proof of one war plan, but it says more about intended options than public rhetoric alone.
Notable Point · 2:43:43-2:47:00
What Chinese LHA construction signals beyond Taiwan
The range and aviation capacity of Chinese LHAs point toward regional expeditionary missions rather than only a short crossing of the Taiwan Strait.