The breakneck speed of China's shipbuilding: How Chinese Navy is preparing to operate anywhere across the globe

China’s newest aircraft carrier, Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday near Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. This move reflects Beijing’s growing military capabilities and its ambitions to assert influence in the Indo-Pacific region. China now has the world’s largest naval fleet, with over 370 warships compared to the United States’ 296. China’s shipbuilding capacity is roughly 230 times that of the U.S., raising concerns in Washington, according US' Office of Naval Intelligence

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aims to become a fully capable blue-water navy by 2050. A blue-water navy can operate globally across deep oceans, not just in coastal regions. China’s fleet includes over 40 destroyers, more than 50 frigates, around 60 submarines, over 90 corvettes and missile boats, multiple amphibious assault ships, and two active aircraft carriers, with a third undergoing trials. Reports indicate China adds about six submarines annually, potentially reaching 80 by 2035.

To illustrate the pace of shipbuilding, the 250-tonne Type-22 light fast attack aircraft, introduced in 2004, saw 83 units produced within eight years. In 2016, the Jiangnan Changxing shipyard was building 16 different ships simultaneously, while the Dalian Shipyard constructed three types of ships.

Also Read: How India aims to build a blue-water Navy of 200+ ships capable of reaching any corner of the globe

Aircraft carriers at the centre of strategy
China’s first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, entered service in 2012. Reports indicate the country may have six to seven carriers by the early 2030s. As U.S. diplomat Henry Kissinger famously said, an aircraft carrier represents "100,000 tons of diplomacy."

People's Liberation Army Air Force expansion
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has increased its combat capability from 1,400 fighter aircraft in 2000 to roughly 2,500 in 2025. This includes over 300 fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighters and advanced fourth-generation aircraft such as the J-10C and J-16. China’s strategic bomber force now includes over 160 H-6 aircraft, capable of carrying long-range cruise missiles. Additionally, around 80 Y-20 heavy-lift transport aircraft have expanded the country’s strategic air mobility, and the Xi’an H-20 stealth bomber is under development.

People's Liberation Army Ground Forces modernisation
The PLA Ground Forces have been overhauled from a manpower-intensive structure to a leaner, technologically advanced force. Active personnel declined from 3.6 million in 1998 to about 965,000 in 2023.

China’s main battle tank fleet has shifted from older Soviet-derived models to modern platforms, including over 1,300 Type 99A tanks and thousands of upgraded Type 96-series tanks. Artillery capability has evolved from 10,000 older towed guns in 2000 to over 3,000 modern systems such as the PLZ-05 self-propelled and PCL-181 wheeled artillery. Armored vehicles have grown from approximately 14,000 in 2000 to more than 35,000 in 2025, including advanced infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers like the ZBL-09 and ZBD-04.

China's Defense spending

The U.S. Department of Defense’s 2024 China Military Power Report estimates that China’s publicly declared defense budget of $245 billion is understated by 40 to 90 percent. Accounting for off-budget spending, actual expenditures are estimated between $330 billion and $450 billion, with some U.S. lawmakers speculating the total could reach $700 billion.

Nuclear arsenal expansion

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China is also the fastest-growing nuclear weapons producer globally. Since 2023, the country has added roughly 100 nuclear warheads annually. As of 2025, China is estimated to possess around 600 nuclear warheads, with projections suggesting the stockpile could reach 1,500 by 2035. Russia currently holds the largest nuclear arsenal with approximately 5,580 warheads.

The unprecedented pace and scale of modernization have raised concerns in Washington, across Asia, and among global security analysts. With continued investments in modern platforms, cyber capabilities, space technologies, and strategic systems, China is positioning itself as a major global power capable of shaping international security in the decades ahead.