Shipbuilding – US Lawmakers See India as Key Partner in Reducing China Reliance
Shipbuilding – The United States is increasingly looking toward trusted partners to strengthen global shipbuilding capacity beyond China, with India emerging as a promising contributor to future maritime cooperation.
The United States has identified India as an important emerging partner in its long-term strategy to reduce dependence on China’s dominant shipbuilding industry. During a recent hearing held by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, lawmakers and policy experts discussed how closer cooperation with countries such as India, Japan, and South Korea could help create a stronger and more balanced global maritime industry while supporting regional security and resilient supply chains.
India Gains Attention in Allied Maritime Strategy
Throughout the hearing, Japan and South Korea were recognized as America’s most experienced partners because of their well-established shipbuilding sectors. However, India was also highlighted as a country with growing capabilities that could play an increasingly significant role in expanding allied shipbuilding capacity over the coming years.
Matthew Funaiole, Vice President at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said Washington should work closely with long-standing allies such as Japan and South Korea while also engaging newer participants like India. According to him, coordinated planning and investment over the long term would help strengthen industrial capacity outside China and support shared strategic goals.
Concerns Over China’s Expanding Shipbuilding Industry
The congressional hearing, titled Charting a New Course: Countering China’s Dominance in Global Shipbuilding, focused on the rapid expansion of China’s state-supported commercial shipbuilding industry. Participants discussed its impact on international trade, global logistics, and security across the Indo-Pacific region.
Subcommittee Chair Young Kim noted that China now accounts for more than half of the world’s commercial shipbuilding output, while the United States contributes only a very small share. She argued that Beijing’s commercial shipbuilding sector also strengthens its naval power because civilian and military shipbuilding industries operate in close coordination under China’s broader industrial policy.
Kim further stated that many American shipyards continue to face production backlogs, workforce shortages, and structural challenges, making it difficult for the United States to rebuild its domestic shipbuilding strength without sustained investment and international cooperation.
Bipartisan Support for Working With Allies
The hearing reflected bipartisan agreement that rebuilding American shipbuilding capacity cannot be achieved by the United States alone. Representative Ami Bera emphasized that America’s network of allies provides an important advantage in addressing long-term industrial and strategic challenges.
He pointed to cooperation with Japan and South Korea in areas such as workforce development, advanced technology, and investment, suggesting that partnerships would remain central to future efforts aimed at strengthening maritime manufacturing.
Experts Recommend Long-Term Industrial Planning
Witnesses before the committee agreed that directly matching China’s shipbuilding output would be unrealistic. Instead, they encouraged Washington to pursue a long-term strategy focused on innovation, advanced maritime technologies, improved transparency regarding China’s maritime sector, and stronger industrial coordination with partner nations.
Funaiole stressed that reducing China’s dominance in global shipbuilding would require sustained commitment over many years rather than expecting immediate results. He said building alternative industrial capacity would be a gradual process that depends on consistent cooperation among allied countries.
Wider International Cooperation Under Discussion
Brent Sadler of the Heritage Foundation proposed creating a broader coalition of maritime nations that could coordinate policies related to shipbuilding, technology, and international trade. He suggested that countries including Japan, South Korea, Greece, the Philippines, and potentially Taiwan could participate in such a framework.
Lawmakers also explored additional measures that could encourage investment in American shipyards while reducing dependence on Chinese facilities. Among the ideas discussed were tariffs, port-related fees, export controls, and targeted sanctions designed to strengthen domestic production and encourage greater participation by allied companies.
According to testimony presented during the hearing, China currently produces more than half of global commercial ships. Experts also warned that the country’s commercial shipbuilding industry supports the rapid expansion of its naval fleet through an integrated civilian and military production model, reinforcing concerns about its growing influence in the global maritime sector.