US Navy Lacks Warships for Conflict With China, Says Congressman Waltz

‘The country has become too comfortable allowing our greatest adversary to build the majority of the world’s ships,’ Rep. Michael Waltz says.

Ships from the Gerald R. Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Groups sail in formation in the Mediterranean Sea, on Nov. 3, 2023. Jacob Mattingly/U.S. Navy

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Navy lacks sufficient ships and crew to conduct a war with China, according to one Congressman.

China’s dominance in global ship manufacturing is further exacerbating the issue, said Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) during a Feb. 5 talk at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.