America’s Navy is stuck in a critical shipbuilding crisis, unable to produce warships fast enough to keep up with China’s maritime ambitions. Political interests, skilled labor shortages, and protectionist policies in Congress have fueled costly delays, leaving the U.S. Navy struggling to field even a fraction of the warships it needs. As China rapidly scales up its advanced fleet, including its formidable Type-055 Renhai cruisers, the U.S. risks being vastly outmatched in the Pacific.
President Xi Jinping’s aggressive actions near Taiwan and in the South China Sea only underscore the urgency. Yet, without bold changes, America’s fleet risks falling far short in any future conflict. Proposals for foreign-built warships from allies like South Korea, Japan, and the U.K. offer a potential lifeline. South Korea, with its world-leading shipbuilding, could rapidly bolster the U.S. fleet with advanced ships like the Sejong the Great-class destroyers, capable of deep combat in contested waters.
Congress’s attachment to “Buy American” policies, as championed by lawmakers like Sen. Tammy Baldwin, has exacerbated the issue. These policies restrict access to cost-effective solutions abroad, instead driving up prices domestically while limiting capacity. Meanwhile, domestic shipyards, like General Dynamics Electric Boat, face critical workforce gaps, with job offers failing to attract skilled workers to crucial positions.
The U.S. Navy’s needs are clear: a tandem approach to build at home and abroad could expand the fleet in time to meet China’s growing threat. Reducing deployments in Europe and focusing resources on the Pacific would also alleviate strain on Navy personnel and bolster regional readiness. The stakes are high: China’s dominance of the Western Pacific would not only disrupt global trade but also threaten the sovereignty and economic stability of democratic allies. If the U.S. doesn’t act fast, it risks entering any future conflict with a navy that’s too small to win.
