Is America Losing the Shipbuilding Race to China?

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (csis) confirmed in a report this month that China now has the largest navy in the world in number of vessels.

• China accounts for 53.3 percent of global shipbuilding output, dwarfing America’s 0.1 percent.

The csis report calls for United States policymakers to “enact punitive measures” to erode China’s maritime dominance. Another investigative report by the U.S. Trade Representative concluded that because China’s unreasonable pursuit of dominance restricts and burdens the U.S., “responsive action is appropriate.”

Various U.S. policymakers are sounding the alarm on China’s growing maritime power. President Donald Trump has established a new office of shipbuilding in the White House. But can America beat China in the shipbuilding race, or are the Chinese already too far ahead?

Military-civil fusion: China’s policy of “military-civil fusion” is a major component of their naval development. According to the U.S. Department of State, a key aspect of this policy is “the elimination of barriers between China’s civilian research and commercial sectors, and its military and defense industrial sectors.”

China has blurred the lines between its commercial and defense industries. This allows the Navy to use commercial infrastructure, innovation and investment to rapidly grow its military power.

Every Chinese civilian ship is built to meet military specifications, extending China’s naval capabilities far beyond reported numbers. China’s massive fleet of civilian ships is a navy-in-waiting.

Waiting for what? It is clear China is preparing for war.

• China has bullied sovereign powers in their territorial waters.
• Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping signed three orders on February 18 to improve combat readiness.
• China declared it is “ready for war” with America, raising its defense spending by 7.2 percent in March.
• China, Russia and Iran will participate in joint naval exercises planned for March.

As tensions rise surrounding China’s accelerating intention to invade Taiwan, the U.S. is being forced to examine whether it has the power to protect its historic ally in the South China Sea.

Prophesied domination: The Bible forecasts the rise of America’s enemies and explains why God allows it.

Deuteronomy 28 describes God’s punishment for the sins of the end-time nations of Israel, mainly the U.S. and Britain. (Request our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy.) In verse 52, God warns Israel that its enemies will take control of its vital “gates.” These include sea gates—maritime choke points and trade routes. Control over these gates will be leveraged against the U.S. and Britain.

As Bible prophecy reveals, China is determined to become a world superpower and will wield its tremendous maritime power to become one. The Bible makes clear that until America turns to God in repentance, its efforts to compete with China’s shipbuilding boom will be in vain.

To understand where China’s growing power is leading, read Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s article “China Is Steering the World Toward War.”