Troubled waters: The Navy is struggling to build warships

Reports indicate that China's shipbuilding capacity is over 200 times that of the US

Photo collage of a group of construction workers standing on top of a huge ship blueprint
Many a US shipbuilder is retiring. That plus bureaucracy have created hurdles to ship debuts.
(Image credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images)

While the United States Navy is still considered the most powerful on Earth, there is concern among military officials that the Navy's longstanding prowess in building warships is sinking. Some experts now believe that the Navy's shipbuilding is in its worst state in 25 years, allowing the Chinese Navy to leapfrog some of the naval fleet capabilities of the U.S.

Leaked intelligence seen by Business Insider reportedly shows that China's shipbuilding capacity is 232 times greater than the United States, a far cry from America's oceanic dominance of years past. And some are concerned that the Navy's shipbuilding problems could be here for the long run.

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Justin Klawans, The Week US

 Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.