China Expands Naval Presence, Deploys Nearly 100 Ships Across Asia’s Busiest Sea Routes

China has significantly expanded its maritime presence, with its navy no longer confined to waters near its own coastline. Nearly 100 Chinese naval vessels are now reportedly patrolling some of Asia’s busiest sea routes every day, with an increasing presence in the South China Sea and waters near Japan and Taiwan.

Beijing’s growing maritime influence has become a major concern for US military planners. China now has more warships than the United States, and its fleet is expanding at such a rapid pace that Washington is finding it increasingly difficult to keep up.

According to an analysis of official US government figures by The Wall Street Journal, China's navy now operates more than 400 warships and submarines, approximately 35 per cent more than the US fleet. China currently operates three aircraft carriers and is building a fourth, which Western experts believe could be nuclear-powered.

The expansion is considered one of the largest peacetime naval build-ups in modern history, NDTV reported.

Chinese warships are now patrolling an extensive maritime area, including the South China Sea, waters around Taiwan, the eastern coast of the Philippines and the southern coast of Japan. Chinese naval vessels also regularly operate in the western Pacific and the Gulf of Aden.

According to security officials, at least six Chinese naval vessels are deployed around Taiwan at any given time. Their numbers increase rapidly during military exercises. China's naval presence in the South China Sea is reportedly almost three times larger.

The region is also the site of longstanding territorial disputes between Beijing and neighbouring countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam.

China's objective is not simply to increase the number of warships. Beijing also seeks to strengthen control over waters near its coastline, reinforce its territorial claims in disputed areas and prevent US military intervention in the event of a future conflict.

China's growing naval power has been driven in large part by its massive shipbuilding industry. The country is the world's largest shipbuilder, producing more than half of the world's commercial vessels annually.

Beijing is now using the same industrial capacity to accelerate the construction of advanced warships.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been a central figure behind the transformation. Shortly after taking office in 2013, he told Communist Party leaders that China needed to become a great maritime power.

Xi invoked the historic voyages of 15th-century Chinese admiral Zheng He, whose fleets travelled as far as the Strait of Hormuz and the eastern coast of Africa.

He also recalled China's period of maritime withdrawal and the 19th-century Opium Wars, when Western powers attacked China through the sea.

Despite its numerical advantage, China's navy still trails the United States in several areas. American warships are generally larger on average, although Beijing is now building large vessels at an increasingly rapid pace.

The Wall Street Journal reported that China has added 71 major warships and submarines to its fleet since 2020, including 19 in the previous year alone.

Much of this expansion is taking place on Changxing Island near Shanghai, where two major shipyards are producing commercial vessels alongside advanced military warships.

Satellite images from May showed extensive construction activity at the facilities.

In 2023, China built the 40,000-tonne amphibious assault ship Sichuan, which has been described as a potential drone carrier.

In June this year, a new nuclear-powered submarine was also spotted at the Jiangnan Shipyard on Changxing Island.

China is increasingly shifting its focus from diesel-electric submarines towards nuclear-powered vessels.

US officials estimate that by 2040, Chinese submarines could be conducting regular patrols in the Indian Ocean and the Arctic region.

At the centre of the growing naval rivalry is a vast maritime region stretching from the Yellow Sea to the East and South China Seas.

China wants to establish greater control over these strategically important and heavily trafficked waterways. Beijing is also seeking to bring Taiwan under its control and make it more difficult for US forces to intervene in a potential conflict.

Washington, meanwhile, wants to prevent Chinese military dominance in the region.

Military strategists say protecting the so-called First Island Chain, which includes Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, remains a key priority for the Pentagon.

However, Beijing continues to expand its military presence across the area. Chinese warships are increasingly operating in large formations and conducting joint training exercises.

These deployments not only increase pressure on neighbouring countries but also help China prepare its forces for any potential future conflict.

The accelerating naval expansion highlights the growing strategic competition between Washington and Beijing over control, influence and military access in the Indo-Pacific region.