China’s dominance over US in shipbuilding raises alarms in Congress
China’s increasing dominance over the U.S. in terms of shipbuilding has raised concerns on Capitol Hill, prompting forthcoming legislation to address the issue. A bipartisan group of military veterans currently serving in the House of Representatives – Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C. – are introducing a bill aimed at revitalizing the struggling U.S. commercial ship sector.
“This is a critical issue. America’s naval supremacy, a cornerstone of our security, is at risk from Communist China,” Green stated in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. China’s Navy has now surpassed the U.S. as the largest in the world, with an estimated 350 seafaring vessels compared to 280 in the U.S. Green highlighted China’s use of its fleet to disrupt freedom of navigation, intimidate allies, and harass civilian ships, emphasizing the urgent need to invest in the U.S. maritime industrial base.
The proposed bill would establish a National Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base tasked with examining the status of American maritime industries, both military and commercial, and developing policy and legislative recommendations to revitalize U.S. shipyards. Kiggans emphasized the importance of shipbuilding as the backbone of her coastal Virginia district’s economy, noting the challenges faced by the maritime industrial base due to workforce and supply chain issues. Davis echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to strengthen national security through shipbuilding.
The U.S. faces stiff competition from China, which holds nearly 47% of the global market share in shipbuilding, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. South Korea and Japan follow with around 29% and 17% of the market share, respectively, while the U.S. lags behind with only 0.13%. A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies revealed that a single Chinese shipbuilder exceeded the total output by tonnage of the U.S. since World War II in 2024 alone, highlighting China’s dominance in the sector as a national security risk.
Despite the current partisan divide in Congress, competition with China remains a bipartisan concern. The proposed legislation aims to address the challenges faced by the U.S. maritime industrial base and strengthen the country’s ability to build and sustain a world-class fleet. By investing in shipbuilding and revitalizing U.S. shipyards, lawmakers hope to safeguard America’s naval supremacy and protect national security.
Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the House of Representatives, provided insights into the critical issue of China’s dominance in shipbuilding. For more updates on this developing story, follow Elizabeth on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.
