“Socialism is good…” sings a pensioner into a portable karaoke mic in Suoyuwan park, Dalian. Her friends join in the chorus: “The Communist Party guides China on the path to power and wealth!”
Behind them, cranes rise like giants over the Yellow Sea, lifting steel into place at one of China’s largest shipyards. To the casual onlooker, it’s a scenic backdrop. But to White House analysts thousands of miles away, it signals something far more strategic: China’s accelerating dominance of global shipbuilding.
China’s Two-Decade Surge in Shipbuilding
In just two decades, China has transformed its shipyards into global leaders. In 2025 alone, more than 60% of the world’s new ship orders have gone to Chinese builders. The secret? Speed, scale, and state support.
“The scale is extraordinary… in many ways eye-watering,” says Nick Childs, a maritime expert at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. “The Chinese shipbuilding capacity is something like 200 times overall that of the United States.”
Put simply, China can build ships faster and cheaper than anyone else. This industrial edge isn’t limited to commercial vessels, it extends deep into its military ambitions.
The World’s Largest Navy
China’s dominance at sea is not just economic—it’s strategic. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) now boasts 234 warships, outpacing the US Navy’s 219. From defending international commerce routes to establishing dominance in disputed regions, this fleet development is a component of a broader effort to protect Beijing’s marine interests.
The growth has been dramatic. Once reliant on outdated vessels, China now launches advanced destroyers, aircraft carriers, and submarines at a pace the world has never seen.
Economic Power Anchored in Ports
China’s explosive rise has been fuelled by the sea.
China has seven of the ten busiest ports in the world today, making it an essential part of global supply chains. This maritime might sustains coastal towns like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, strengthening the link between naval might and economic expansion.
Each container ship that leaves a Chinese port doesn’t just carry goods—it carries influence. And Beijing knows it.
A Louder Claim in the South China Sea
As China’s shipyards churn out more vessels, its confidence at sea has grown. Beijing has become increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, a critical trade artery through which a third of global shipping passes.
Its ambition to control the waterways it claims is demonstrated by patrols, military installations, and artificial islands.
President Xi Jinping’s China wants to rule the waves, not only for economic survival but also for global influence. The question now is whether the rest of the world, particularly the United States, can match or counterbalance that momentum.
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The Question That Remains
From karaoke in Dalian to boardrooms in Washington, the story is the same: China is reshaping the balance of power at sea. Its shipyards are more than factories—they are engines of national ambition.
Whether this ambition translates into undisputed maritime dominance remains uncertain. But one fact is undeniable: the tide of global power is shifting, and it is shifting eastward.
