Top US admiral says he’s watching China’s rapid naval buildup closely

The top U.S. naval commander has expressed concern over China’s rapidly expanding maritime capabilities, describing Beijing’s shipbuilding program as “impressive” amid the ongoing development of the world’s largest navy.

Admiral Daryl Caudle made these comments during a visit to Japan on Monday as part of his 10-day tour of the Asia-Pacific region. His observations come as China continues to strengthen its naval forces at an unprecedented pace.

“How they utilize those aircraft carriers globally is, of course, a concern of mine,” Caudle stated during his visit to Tokyo, reflecting growing apprehension about China’s maritime ambitions.

China reached a significant milestone on November 7 when it commissioned its newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian. Just a week later, the Chinese navy began sea trials of its most advanced amphibious assault ship. These developments mark important steps in China’s naval modernization program, which has already resulted in a fleet that outnumbers the U.S. Navy in terms of total vessels.

“We watch that very closely and see what they’re going to do there,” Caudle noted regarding the amphibious assault ship. “That’s a large ship, very capable.”

Despite China’s numerical advantage, military analysts point out that the U.S. still maintains superiority in key naval assets, including aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, which are crucial for power projection in distant waters.

Caudle emphasized the strategic importance of regional alliances in countering China’s growing naval strength. “When you’ve got a lot of friends and allies, we have a pretty large, combined force ourselves,” he said, highlighting the naval capabilities of Japan, South Korea, Australia, and other partners in the region.

The admiral’s visit to Tokyo coincides with heightened tensions between Japan and China following comments by Japan’s new conservative prime minister suggesting that a Chinese move against Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response. This stance represents a significant shift in Japan’s traditionally cautious foreign policy approach and signals growing concern about regional security dynamics.

Earlier on Monday, Caudle visited the U.S. Navy base at Yokosuka and a local shipbuilding facility, underscoring the importance of industrial cooperation with regional allies. “What we are willing to do with Japan and South Korea is to bolster U.S. shipbuilding,” he stated, pointing to the strategic value of these partnerships in maintaining America’s maritime edge.

The admiral also addressed recent developments in submarine technology in the region. He described South Korea’s plan to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine under a recent agreement with the United States as “very nascent.” This initiative represents a significant advancement in South Korea’s naval capabilities and reflects growing concerns about maritime security in Northeast Asia.

Japan has similarly expressed interest in developing nuclear-powered submarines, though such a move could face domestic challenges given the country’s historical experience with atomic weapons and its longstanding non-nuclear principles. As the only nation to have experienced atomic bombings, Japan maintains strong public sentiment against nuclear technology in military applications.

These developments come against the backdrop of increasing competition between the United States and China for influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The U.S. has been working to strengthen its alliance network while China continues to assert its claims in the South China Sea and expand its naval presence throughout the region.

Military experts note that while China’s naval expansion is impressive in quantitative terms, questions remain about its operational capabilities and experience compared to the U.S. Navy, which has decades of global operations behind it.

The ongoing naval buildup in the region highlights the shifting balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and underscores the strategic importance of maritime capabilities in shaping regional security dynamics in the coming decades.