US Secretary of Defense Announces Increase of 62 Warships to Counter Chinese Naval Power

"Building Future Naval Power to Overwhelm China"
Indicates Introduction of Unmanned Ships, Unmanned Submarines, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

On the 16th (local time), Mark Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense, is delivering a speech at a forum held at the RAND Corporation, a defense think tank located in Santa Monica, California. [Image source=U.S. Department of Defense]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper stated that the primary adversary the United States will face in the future is China rather than Russia. He announced plans to enhance naval power by increasing the number of warships by 62 and expanding unmanned vessels and unmanned submarines to build a future-oriented force. The ongoing military standoff and arms race between the U.S. and China in the South China Sea are expected to continue.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, on the 16th (local time), Secretary Esper attended a forum at the RAND Corporation, a defense think tank located in Santa Monica, California. He said, "China possesses vast resources, population, and economic dynamism, making it a significant threat unlike Russia. All Department of Defense resources must be focused on China, and the Indo-Pacific region will now be our most important stage."

He emphasized that strengthening naval power is essential to counter China's continuously growing military capabilities. Secretary Esper explained, "We will increase the number of warships from the current 293 to 355, adding 62 ships, and secure additional unmanned vessels, unmanned submarines, and unmanned aerial vehicles to prepare for future maritime warfare. Even if China’s naval power is not currently capable of matching us, we must possess overwhelming strength against China and continue building modern ships."

Secretary Esper warned, "The Chinese Communist Party plans to complete military modernization by 2035. China is actively investing in the development of long-range, autonomous unmanned submarines, which could be a cost-effective countermeasure against the U.S. Navy." He added, "Considering this modernization of China’s naval power, our Navy needs to be strengthened by 2045."

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