America¡¯s efforts to ramp up maritime firepower can¡¯t seem to catch a break. Last week, the U.S. Navy scrapped plans for a warship originally commissioned to narrow the gap with Beijing¡¯s much larger fleet. And not for the first time ¡ª Washington¡¯s shipbuilding programs have been dogged by years of delays and escalating costs. But there is a solution.
Ally South Korea ¡ª backed by shipbuilders Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries ¡ª has the money, technology and will to help if Washington makes it worth its while. Congress should move quickly to pass a law allowing military ships to be built overseas by trusted partners, as well as move to allow vessels to undergo maintenance in foreign shipyards. It¡¯s a deal that would benefit both sides.
The stakes are clear: The U.S. has a battle force of around 290, while China has a 400-strong fleet, according to U.S. estimates. While American ships may have the edge technologically, that¡¯s not what¡¯s important. Historically, it has been about size. The bigger navy almost always wins.
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