[Poohbah]

Granted they are not buying such things. But are they building them? Have you personally visited the PRC? I have.

That's nice. I merely content myself with consulting stuff like Combat Fleets (better than Jane's, at a lower cost).

One of the things I noticed was quite an industry, in general, for the production of hydrofoils and hovercraft.

Hydrofoils are NOT amphibs. Hovercraft MAY be, but are far too soft and far too expensive for use in an opposed landing. The money would be far better spent on plain, dull LCUs, LCPs, and LSTs. But you're indicating that China would either opt for a massive (and easily detected) retooling, or a massive wastage of resources that they can ill afford.

[GOP_1900AD]

1 to 2 years ago I saw some footage of PLA amphibious exercises around Woody Island. It was only a couple of seconds of film. I seem to recall seeing both LSTs and ambhibs in it. I'll see if I can find any references to this out there on the Web.