China’s Shipbuilding Boom: How Beijing Is Reshaping Global Naval Power
In a park overlooking one of China’s busiest shipyards, pensioners sing patriotic karaoke. Their lyrics—“The Communist Party guides China on the path to power and wealth”—carry more weight than just nostalgia. Beyond the cheerful gatherings in Suoyuwan Park, the cranes and vessels on the horizon symbolize a dramatic shift in global naval power.
Over the past two decades, China has poured vast resources into shipbuilding—and the results are staggering. Today, more than 60% of the world’s new ship orders are being built in Chinese shipyards, making Beijing the undisputed leader in global ship production.
According to Nick Childs of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, “China’s shipbuilding capacity is something like 200 times that of the United States.” The scale, he says, is “eye-watering.”
China Builds the World’s Largest Navy
That industrial strength has also transformed China’s navy. The People’s Liberation Army Navy now operates 234 warships, compared with the US Navy’s 219. While the US fleet still dominates in tonnage and advanced technology—particularly with its fleet of aircraft carriers—China is closing the gap at an unprecedented pace.
Between 2019 and 2023 alone, China’s four major shipyards—Dalian, Guangzhou, Jiangnan, and Hudong-Zhonghua—produced 39 warships with a combined displacement of 550,000 tonnes, surpassing the entire current size of the UK’s Royal Navy.
Seven of the world’s ten busiest ports are in China, fueling both its economy and its military ambitions. With global trade routes flowing through its coastline, Beijing sees naval dominance not just as a strategic asset but as a pathway to global influence.
South China Sea Tensions and Military Ambitions
China’s growing fleet has emboldened Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea, a critical waterway for international trade. President Xi Jinping has signaled that naval power is central to China’s rise, and upcoming military parades are expected to showcase anti-ship missiles, hypersonic weapons, and underwater drones.
Xi will host Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at the event—a clear signal of defiance against Western nations.
For Washington and its allies, the rise of China’s navy poses a direct challenge. Although the US still has superior carriers, nuclear submarines, and global reach, its shipbuilding industry has significantly weakened. President Donald Trump has pledged to revitalize American shipyards to reclaim maritime dominance, but experts warn it will be a “very tall order.”
Limits to China’s Naval Power
Despite the numbers, China’s navy still faces limitations. It has only two operational aircraft carriers compared to America’s fleet of 11. Its submarine technology also lags behind the US, which has decades of Cold War–era advancements. Most of China’s submarines are designed for the shallow waters of the South China Sea, limiting their ability to project power globally.
Still, signs of rapid change are evident. Satellite imagery from Hainan’s Yulin naval base shows China has added five new piers in just five years. The base is being prepared to house its most powerful Jin-class submarines, each capable of carrying 12 nuclear missiles.
The Road Ahead
Beijing’s shipyards are not slowing down, and analysts warn that China’s relentless pace of production could tip the balance of power at sea. While the US Navy remains the most advanced, its shrinking industrial base leaves it vulnerable to being outpaced.
As China continues to expand its navy, the world is watching closely. Whether Beijing’s ambitions will allow it to truly “rule the waves” remains uncertain—but its shipbuilding boom has already reshaped the global balance of maritime power.