China Builds World's Largest Navy by Hull Count
China has surpassed the United States in naval hull count, deploying over 400 ships to challenge U.S. maritime hegemony in the Pacific.
The Government of China has established the world's largest navy by hull count, operating a battle force of more than 400 ships and submarines. This fleet is approximately 35% larger than that of the United States. Driven by the conviction of President Xi Jinping that national power depends on maritime dominance, Beijing now operates three aircraft carriers with a fourth under construction.
China is utilizing its extensive commercial shipbuilding industry to produce nuclear-powered submarines and sophisticated warships. This expansion focuses on the first island chain near Taiwan and the South China Sea, where Beijing has established military bases on artificial islands. To project power globally, China has also financed a network of overseas ports and deployed a fishing militia and coast guard.
In response, the administration of Donald Trump is prioritizing the elimination of regulations and the restoration of U.S. shipbuilding capacity. While the United States maintains an advantage in total tonnage, the United States Department of the Navy has struggled to expand its fleet despite doubling its shipbuilding budget over the last two decades.
