Dalian — China’s shipyards are working at unprecedented speed, fueling the rise of a naval force that is already outpacing the United States in numbers and closing the gap in capabilities. From the northeastern port city of Dalian, where cranes dominate the skyline and patriotic songs echo in nearby parks, the scale of Beijing’s shipbuilding has become a source of both national pride and global concern.
Over the past two decades, China has transformed itself into the world’s shipbuilding giant, receiving more than 60 percent of global orders this year. Maritime analysts say the country’s capacity is nearly 200 times that of the US, allowing Beijing to churn out warships at a pace no rival can match. Today, the People’s Liberation Army Navy operates 234 warships, surpassing the US Navy’s 219 vessels, though Washington still holds an edge in tonnage and carrier power.
President Xi Jinping has made no secret of his ambitions. He has repeatedly tied China’s naval buildup to the painful legacy of foreign invasions and humiliations suffered between the 19th and mid-20th centuries. By fusing military and civilian shipyards under a centralized strategy, Beijing has created a system capable of supplying both commercial fleets and combat-ready warships in record time. In places like Dalian, massive cargo carriers stand alongside stealth destroyers and helicopter decks, a physical embodiment of Xi’s “military-civil fusion” agenda.
Satellite images show rapid expansions at bases such as Yulin on Hainan Island, where China has built new piers to accommodate Jin-class submarines armed with nuclear missiles. Rehearsals for an upcoming parade in Beijing suggest the unveiling of hypersonic weapons, anti-ship missiles, and unmanned underwater drones designed to extend surveillance and strike capabilities. Although some of these technologies remain unproven, experts warn that China’s ability to scale production gives it a long-term advantage over the US, whose own shipbuilding industry has atrophied.
For Washington, the implications are clear. Even as US President Donald Trump signs executive orders to revitalize American shipyards, analysts argue it will be a tall order to match China’s industrial momentum. The contest is not only about firepower but about speed: who can put more assets into the water, more quickly, and sustain them in a prolonged conflict. On this front, Beijing holds the edge.
The United States and its allies remain most concerned about Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province. Chinese naval drills near Japan and the unprecedented circumnavigation of Australia’s coastline earlier this year have underscored how far Beijing is willing to project power beyond its shores. While Chinese officials insist they are not seeking military confrontation, the deployment of warships across the Pacific tells a different story — one of preparation, confidence, and growing assertiveness.
China’s Victory Day parade in Beijing this week, attended by Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, will showcase these advances in a show of defiance aimed squarely at the West. Anti-ship missiles, submarines, and advanced drones will be paraded before an audience eager to demonstrate solidarity against Washington’s dominance. According to the BBC, the world’s attention is fixed on whether China’s naval resurgence will merely secure its coasts or signal an ambition to rule the oceans outright.
