Authored by Mike Fredenburg via The Epoch Times,

Establishing an office of U.S. shipbuilding is essential for America to reclaim its position as a maritime power and counter China’s increasing maritime dominance.

Following World War II, the United States had a vast shipbuilding industry with over 100 shipyards and a fleet that carried 57 percent of U.S. trade. Today, only 0.2 percent of global commercial tonnage is in U.S.-built ships, with China, South Korea, and Japan dominating the market.

The decline in U.S. commercial shipbuilding has impacted the Navy’s size, readiness, and costs, leading to underperforming programs like the Constellation-class frigate, Littoral combat ship, Ford-class carriers, and Zumwalt destroyer.

China’s shipbuilding capacity dwarfs that of the United States, posing a significant national security risk. The new U.S. shipbuilding office aims to address this concern by streamlining regulations, boosting the steel industry, and providing necessary subsidies to compete with other subsidized countries.

It is crucial for the United States to revitalize its shipbuilding industry to regain maritime superiority and reduce dependency on foreign-built ships, especially from China.

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