[red-iron-pine]

nah.

China built several -- several, like 8+ -- landing ships designed to support an amphibious assault. if soft power was their goal and primary method they wouldn't have spent the resources.

while they may not ever do it, a very direct, very violent invasion is absolutely on the table. Taiwan may only even be a secondary objective, since #1 would be sinking the US Navy and shifting the hegemonic balance; they'll get to Taiwan when they can after that.

[jvanderbot]

Having a large military capability and not using it is ... Soft power? Is that fair?

[mc32]

Soft power is economic and cultural levers. Hardware is actual military power.

[mesofile]

One term that's specific to this concept of wielding a real but unused military capability is "fleet in being" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_in_being