The United States has begun to act on a groundswell of interest in revitalizing its struggling shipbuilding industry and reducing China’s dominance in the sector. Washington’s attention was initially focused on the economic security risks posed by China’s meteoric rise in shipbuilding. But policymakers are also increasingly grappling with the national security threats posed by China’s fusion of commercial and naval shipbuilding, which is fueling its massive naval buildup. Data on global shipbuilding orders analyzed by CSIS shows that markets initially reacted significantly to the flurry of activity coming from Washington, but as the final contours of policies are taking shape, many shipping companies are moving full steam ahead with buying from Chinese shipyards.
Are U.S. Policies Eroding China’s Dominance in Shipbuilding?
