US naval exercises in the Pacific have shown that the US Navy does not have enough ships for a direct confrontation with China. The Wall Street Journal writes that the United States urgently needs to build more warships or it won’t be able to contain Beijing’s growing threat in the Asia-Pacific region.
The newspaper writes that the shift of the vector of American interest to China requires a significant modernization of the naval forces. In the context of the growing military power of the Middle Kingdom, Washington should reconsider the development strategy of the fleet. Already, Beijing has enough ships to counter the US military.
The 31st U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Force is based in Japan, designed for rapid deployment in times of crisis anywhere in the Asia-Pacific region. However, he faces a shortage of ships, which, given the growth of the Chinese fleet, does not even allow him to leave the base.
writes an American newspaper.
The publication notes that American ships based in the Pacific region are seriously outdated and in need of repairs and modernization. The WSJ quotes US Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro as saying the US Navy is incapable of even basic missions, let alone deterring short-term threats.
Of the 31 ships in service, only about 1/3 have been serviced and prepared for deployment, according to Marine Corps statistics.
says the WSJ publication.
The withdrawal of F-15 fighters from Okinawa Air Base will also seriously affect the United States’ ability to resist China. The replacement of obsolete aircraft will not appear for two years, and today the lack of equipment will become a critical problem for Washington in the event of a direct conflict with Beijing.
Photos used: US Navy
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