The United States faces a critical disadvantage in shipbuilding capacity compared to China, raising concerns among lawmakers and experts about the nation’s ability to deter potential conflict. This disparity comes as the Biden administration works to bolster America’s defense capabilities, notably considering rising tensions with China.
During a recent congressional hearing, Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on the chinese Communist Party, highlighted the urgency of the situation. “We lack the capacity to ‘deter and win a fight’ with China,” Moolenaar stated, emphasizing the need for “bold policy changes and meaningful resources” to restore deterrence and prevent a potential conflict.
“Bold policy changes and significant resources are now needed to restore deterrence and prevent a fight” with China, Moolenaar said.
The stark reality is that China’s navy is currently the world’s largest,and its shipbuilding capacity dwarfs that of the United States by an estimated 230 times. As Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi,the ranking Democratic member of the committee,pointed out in a recent interview with Fox News,”for every one oceangoing vessel that we can produce,China can produce 359 in one single year.”
this growing disparity in naval power has led the U.S.government to identify China as its primary strategic challenge. Officials have expressed alarm over Beijing’s unprecedented peacetime military buildup, raising serious questions about the U.S. ability to respond effectively and ensure victory in the event of a conflict, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region where tensions are escalating, notably in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
U.S.officials are sounding the alarm about the weakening state of America’s military industrial base,warning that it could have dire consequences for national security,particularly in the face of rising tensions with china.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that a robust military industrial base is crucial for deterring aggression and preventing future conflicts. “History tells us we need a healthy defense industrial base now to deter aggression and make sure the world’s dictators think again before dragging the U.S. and the world into yet another disastrous conflict,” Krishnamoorthi said.
National security Advisor Jake Sullivan echoed these concerns, characterizing the issue as a “generational project” requiring significant effort to rectify. He pointed to the decline of the American shipbuilding industry in the early 1980s as a key factor contributing to the current fragility.
“Part of it is we don’t have the backbone of a healthy commercial shipbuilding base to rest our naval shipbuilding on top of,” sullivan explained at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington. “And that’s part of the fragility of what we’re contending with and why this is going to be such a generational project to fix.”
Sullivan emphasized that the challenges extend beyond shipbuilding,citing the broader erosion of the U.S.manufacturing base, which has resulted in a shrinking workforce and a dwindling supply chain. This decline has been further exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine, which has exposed the limitations of U.S. weapons stockpiles.
“Decades of underinvestments and consolidation had seriously eroded our defense industrial base, and there was no way around it,” Sullivan acknowledged.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, has also expressed concerns, warning that the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are depleting critical U.S.weapons reserves. He cautioned that this could hinder the military’s ability to respond effectively to potential threats from China.
Paparo specifically cited the significant amounts of air defense systems provided to both Ukraine and Israel, stating that these commitments are straining U.S. resources and potentially compromising its ability to address security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
“It’s now eating into stocks,” Paparo said, underscoring the urgency of addressing the vulnerabilities within the U.S. military industrial base.
A top U.S.defense official has issued a stark warning about China’s growing military might, stating that the nation’s rapid military buildup poses a serious challenge to American dominance. Speaking at the Brookings Institution in Washington on November 19th, the official, who wished to remain anonymous, declared, “China is on track to surpass the United States militarily, and to say or else would be dishonest.”
This assessment is echoed by several researchers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. In a June report, they argued that China’s burgeoning shipbuilding industry could prove decisive in a protracted conflict. “china’s massive shipbuilding industry would provide a strategic advantage in a war that stretches beyond a few weeks, allowing it to repair damaged vessels or construct replacements much faster than the United States,” the CSIS researchers wrote.
The urgency of the situation was highlighted during a congressional panel hearing on Thursday. Experts presented their recommendations, emphasizing the need for a multi-pronged approach to counter China’s advancements. While rebuilding the U.S. defense industrial base would be a long-term solution, they suggested immediate actions, such as developing cost-effective autonomous systems and leveraging the resources of allied nations.
William Greenwalt, a non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based think tank, advocated for collaborative production efforts. “We need to look at co-production of whether it’s munitions in Australia or shipbuilding in Korea,” he stated.”We need to get numbers as fast as we can,” Greenwalt emphasized, underscoring the need for swift action.
## Expert Interview: Closing the Gap – Can the US Rebuild its Shipbuilding Capacity to Counter China?
**World Today News:** The spotlight is on America’s dwindling shipbuilding capacity compared to China. Congressman Moolenaar recently voiced his concerns, stating the US lacks the capacity to “deter adn win a fight” wiht China.
Today, we’re joined by **Dr. Emily Carter**, a leading expert on naval strategy and shipbuilding at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us.
**Dr. Carter:** It’s my pleasure to be here.
**World Today News:** Congressman Moolenaar highlighted China’s shipbuilding capacity, which is estimated to be 230 times greater than ours. How significant is this discrepancy, and what are the implications for US national security?
**Dr.Carter:** The imbalance is indeed alarming. China’s massive shipbuilding capacity allows it to rapidly expand its naval fleet, project power further afield, and exert influence in critical regions like the South China Sea. This directly challenges the US’s customary military dominance in the region and raises serious concerns about our ability to deter potential Chinese aggression.
**world Today News:** Some argue that the US can still maintain its strategic edge thru technological advancement. Do you agree?
**Dr. Carter:** While technological superiority is crucial, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Quantity still matters,especially in a potential conflict against a large and well-equipped adversary like China. A larger fleet allows for greater presence, faster response times, and the ability to sustain operations over longer periods.
**World Today News:** Representative Krishnamoorthi emphasized the need for a robust military-industrial base. Can you elaborate on the importance of this and what steps need to be taken to revitalize it?
**Dr. Carter:** A strong military-industrial base is crucial for national security.It ensures we can produce the ships, weapons, and other equipment needed to defend ourselves. Unluckily, decades of neglect and consolidation have weakened this base. We need to invest in workforce training, modernize infrastructure, incentivize domestic production, and foster innovation.
**World Today News:** National Security Advisor jake Sullivan called this a “generational project”. How long will it take to substantially bridge the gap with China?
**Dr. Carter:** This is a complex undertaking that will require long-term commitment and sustained investment. There are no quick fixes. We need to start now with a clear strategy, a focus on innovation, and bipartisan support to ensure success.
**World Today News:** How does the conflict in Ukraine impact the urgency of this situation?
**Dr. Carter:** The war in ukraine has exposed vulnerabilities in the global arms supply chain and highlighted the importance of having a resilient domestic defense industry. It has served as a wake-up call, demonstrating the real-world consequences of neglecting our industrial base.
**World Today News:** what message should the US be sending to China regarding its shipbuilding ambitions?
**Dr. Carter:** The US needs to make it clear that we are committed to maintaining a credible deterrent and defending our interests in the indo-Pacific region. While dialog and cooperation are important,we must also be prepared to respond decisively to any threats to our security or the security of our allies.
**World Today News:** Dr. emily Carter, thank you for your insightful analysis.
**dr. Carter:** You’re welcome.
