China Expands Naval Fleet Past 400 Ships, Prompting US Security Concerns

China's navy has expanded its fleet to over 400 battle-force ships and submarines, surpassing the United States fleet by approximately 35 percent in vessel count.

Around 100 Chinese naval vessels operate daily across key Asian shipping routes, with significant deployments tracked near Taiwan and the South China Sea.

American officials project that Chinese nuclear-powered submarines could begin regular operations in the Indian Ocean and near the Arctic by 2040.