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- Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that China has built a larger fleet, but it is still no match for the US Navy.
- Nonetheless, he argued that increased funding for shipbuilding is necessary to ensure that the US Navy can maintain its top tier.
- His remarks, which were delivered at a RAND Corporation event, follow the recent release of the Pentagon’s China Military Power report, which noted that China has the world’s largest navy and is the leading ship-producing nation by tonnage.
- Visit the Business Insider home page for more stories.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Wednesday that while China has more ships, it will be a while before it can match the power of the US Navy.
“I want to make it clear that China cannot match the United States when it comes to naval power,” Esper explained at a RAND Corporation event.
“Even if we stopped building new ships, it would be necessary [People’s Republic of China] years to close the gap when it comes to our offshore capacity, “he said.” The number of ships is important, but they don’t tell the whole story. “
“They do not address the types of ships and the capabilities of the ships that are counted; the skill of the crews that operate them; the skill of the officers who direct them; or the ways in which we combat and sustain them,” the secretary said. . said.
Esper said the U.S. military must take steps to maintain that excess, to include expanding the size of the U.S. Navy to more than 355 ships by building new manned and unmanned naval assets. “We must increase funding for shipbuilding and preparation that sustains a force majeure,” he said Wednesday.
“The future naval force will be more balanced in its ability to produce lethal effects from the air, from the sea and from under the sea,” said the secretary.
“This fleet will have to be made up of more and smaller surface combatants; surface and underground vehicles, optionally manned, unmanned and autonomous; carrier-based drones of all kinds; a larger and more capable submarine force. and a modern strategic deterrent, “he explained.
The unmanned component of the future planned Defense Department fleet “will be a major shift in how we will conduct naval warfare for years and decades to come,” Esper said, arguing that these assets could be tasked with “conducting a variety of of warlike combat functions, from launching lethal fires and laying mines, to carrying out resupply or guarding the enemy. “
Unmanned assets have the potential to be a less expensive and profitable alternative to more manned warships and could be used to compete against a rival power with a stronger shipbuilding capability, such as China.
Esper’s comments on China and his stated interest in boosting US shipbuilding capacity follow the recent release of the Pentagon’s annual China Military Power report.
“China has already reached parity with, or even surpassed, the United States in various areas of military modernization,” the Pentagon reported.
“The People’s Republic of China has the largest navy in the world, with a total battle force of about 350 ships and submarines, including more than 130 major surface combatants,” the report said, adding that China is also “the leading nation. producer of ships in the world by tonnage. “
The report further explained that China is striving to increase “its shipbuilding capacity and capacity for all naval classes.” The China Power project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies has estimated that China could have 425 battle-force ships by 2030.
Experts told Insider that “their shipbuilding capability is a huge advantage for them in a protracted conflict with the United States,” as it “gives them some additional capability if they need to do a navy build-up or build-up or rebuild. The marine”. in a conflict where they lose many ships. “
Speaking on Wednesday about China’s military challenges, particularly as it modernizes its military, Esper said that “the United States must be ready to deter conflict and, if necessary, fight and win at sea.”
Update: This article, which was initially based on comments prepared by Esper, has been updated to reflect his comments when the secretary delivered them at the RAND Corporation event.
