Shore Thing? Why the Stopping Power of Water Is Misconceived

The conventional wisdom about amphibious landings is that they rarely succeed, suggesting that any Chinese invasion of Taiwan would probably fail. This article argues that not only do most amphibious landings succeed, but an amphibious landing can be strategically successful if it ties into a broader plan reducing the defender’s chances of prevailing in the war. The high-stakes Battle of Saipan during World War II provides an example.